Prolonged exposure to gunfire noise among professional soldiers.

Me, Ylikoski

doi:10.5271/sjweh.1416

Cited by 25 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The estimates of the subjects ' exposure to weapon impulses were based on earlier studies of physical characteristics and energy levels of shots from different weapons. Exposure was calculated according to the equal energy principle (9,21). Details were also requested of previous diseases, health complaints , and diseases and injuries possibly affecting hearing and verified by a physician.…”

Section: Hearing Measurement Recordsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hearing loss and handicap of professional soldiers exposed to gunfire noise.

Ylikoski¹,

Ylikoski²

1994

Scand J Work Environ Health

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OBJECTIVES -The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and degree of hearing loss and other disabling consequences of noise among professional soldiers. METHODS -A cross-sectional audiometric survey was combined with a questionnaire study on disabilities in a stratified random sample of 699 army officers (mean age 39.8 years) with long-term exposure to gunfire noise. RESULTS -In 224 (32%) officers, the hearing threshold was found to be 20 dB or less at all of the frequencies measured (0.5, 1, 2,3,4,6, and 8 kHz). Most of the 475 (68%) subjects with hearing loss belonged to older age categories, but more than one-fourth (26%) of the officers under 30 years of age had a hearing loss. Low frequencies were deteriorated in 110 (16%) subjects. The average of the hearing threshold levels of the frequencies 2 and 4 kHz exceeded 20 dB in 229 (33%) officers. For 347 (49.6%) subjects hearing was normal for their age. The degree of age-corrected hearing loss, especially at low frequencies, correlated highly significantly with exposure. Altogether 220 (32%) men experienced tinnitus, 118 (17%) of them continuously. Tinnitus was the most common among the men with severe or disabling hearing loss. Twenty-four (3.4%) of 699 officers needed sound amplification in noisy environments. CONCLUSIONS-The prevalence of hearing loss in the Finnish Defence Forces seems to have decreased, but a fairly large number of younger men still suffer considerable hearing loss and disabling tinnitus, although the use of hearing protectors has substantially increased during the past 15 years. Most of the subjects experienced communication difficulties in noisy environments.KEY TERMS -audiometry, hearing handicap, impulse noise exposure, shooting noise, social hearing, tinnitus.Exposure to high sound pre ssure levels (SPL) from weapon impulses is a universally recognized cause of noise-induced hearing los s (1-3). Among men who hav e been exposed to gunfire noise, the prevalence of hearing loss is as high as 40-60% ( I, 4, 5). In the 1960s, before hearing protectors were commonly used in the Finnish Defence Forces, about 60 % of regular army personnel developed hearing loss (1). In a study of the United States Armed Forces in 1970Forces in -1975-30% of all personnel with two or more years of service and more than 50 % of the men with 15 years of service in the combat arm s branches had significant hearing los s (5). These data indicate that commonly used hearing protection may, in fact, still be insufficient. Small-volume earmuffs attenuate the peak SPL of rifle shot impulses (approximately 157 dB SPL) by 17 dB (6) and thus to the critical level of 140 dB SPL, but only if optimally fitted. On the other hand, the attenuation efficiency of hearing protectors has been shown to be very poor I

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Section: Hearing Measurement Recordsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hearing loss and handicap of professional soldiers exposed to gunfire noise.

Ylikoski¹,

Ylikoski²

1994

Scand J Work Environ Health

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“…Depending on the activities in their career, military personnel may be exposed to continuous and/or intermittent noise (for instance, radio communicators, vehicle sirens, etc.) and to noise from firearms 5 . There are studies on the intensity of firearm noise.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efeitos do ruído de impacto na audição de militares

Heupa¹,

Gonçalves²,

Coifman³

2011

Braz. j. otorhinolaryngol. (Impr.)

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Shoot ing is an activity that exposes military personnel to noise impact, which may cause irreversible effects on hearing.Objective: To evaluate impact noise on the hearing of military personnel that practice shooting. Study design:A case-control retrospective study.Methods: 115 military personnel were enrolled; 65 had been exposed to impact noise and 50 were non-exposed. Firearm noise levels were evaluated, subjects answered a questionnaire and underwent threshold tonal audiometry and otoacoustic emissions testing. Results:The average noise level was 125dB(C). Most subjects (78%) believe that noise may cause hearing loss; nearly all (92.3%) used ear noise protectors while shooting, but most (32.3%) had never received guidance for using this equipment. There were significant differences between the two groups in relation to changes suggesting impact noise-induced hearing loss. Conclusion:The differences between groups show that noise-exposed military personnel are more likely to develop hearing loss. The goal of a hearing conservation program for this population should be to preserve hearing and educate these individuals about the importance of using hearing protection correctly. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2011;77(6):747-53. ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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“…Much of the impetus for this research came from studies by military agencies in the U.S. and Europe of the impulsive sounds from weapons [9,10]. Much of the impetus for this research came from studies by military agencies in the U.S. and Europe of the impulsive sounds from weapons [9,10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%