Clinical characteristics of acoustic trauma caused by gunshot noise in mass rifle drills without ear protection. 2011

In Seok Moon, and Sang-Yong Park, and Hyun Jin Park, and Hoon-Shik Yang, and Sung-Jong Hong, and Won-Sang Lee
Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

One of the major occupational hazards of working in military service is being subjected to intense impulse noise. We analyzed the clinical presentation of acoustic traumas, induced by mass rifle gunshot noise during military training, in unprotected patients. We evaluated 189 soldiers who had otologic symptoms after rifle shooting exercises without using any hearing protection. All soldiers had been training on the K2 rifle. We took medical histories; conducted physical examinations and hearing evaluations (pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, and impedence audiometry); and distributed the Newmann's Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) survey. In addition, we evaluated a normal control group of 64 subjects of similar age who had never fired a rifle. In the patient group, the most common and irritating reported symptom was tinnitus (94.2%), and the average THI score in the patient group was 39.51 ± 14.87, which was significantly higher than the control group score (0.56 ± 3.94) (p < 0.001). Average outcomes of post-exposure air conduction thresholds were 21.33 ± 13.25 dB HL in the affected ears. These levels also were significantly higher than those of the control group (9.16 ± 4.07dB HL) (p < 0.001). Hearing loss was most prominent at high frequencies. An asymmetry of hearing loss related to head position during shooting was not observed. Acoustic trauma induced by gunshot noise can cause permanent tinnitus and hearing loss. Hearing protection (bilateral earplugs) and environmental reform are necessary.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008889 Military Personnel Persons including soldiers involved with the armed forces. Air Force Personnel,Armed Forces Personnel,Army Personnel,Coast Guard,Marines,Navy Personnel,Sailors,Soldiers,Submariners,Military,Force Personnel, Air,Personnel, Air Force,Personnel, Armed Forces,Personnel, Army,Personnel, Military,Personnel, Navy,Sailor,Soldier,Submariner
D009623 Noise, Occupational Noise present in occupational, industrial, and factory situations. Occupational Noise,Noises, Occupational,Occupational Noises
D004430 Ear Protective Devices Personal devices for protection of the ears from loud or high intensity noise, water, or cold. These include earmuffs and earplugs. Earplugs,Hearing Protective Devices,Earmuffs,Device, Ear Protective,Device, Hearing Protective,Devices, Ear Protective,Devices, Hearing Protective,Ear Protective Device,Earmuff,Earplug,Hearing Protective Device,Protective Device, Ear,Protective Device, Hearing,Protective Devices, Ear,Protective Devices, Hearing
D005389 Firearms Small-arms weapons, including handguns, pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, etc. Guns,Rifles,Shotguns
D006317 Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced Hearing loss due to exposure to explosive loud noise or chronic exposure to sound level greater than 85 dB. The hearing loss is often in the frequency range 4000-6000 hertz. Acoustic Trauma,Hearing Loss, Noise Induced,Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D001309 Auditory Threshold The audibility limit of discriminating sound intensity and pitch. Auditory Thresholds,Threshold, Auditory,Thresholds, Auditory

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