The silent impact: the prevalence of auditory symptoms in military personnel exposed to gunshot noise
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34631/sporl.3107Keywords:
Hearing loss, Noise, Military personnel, Portuguese MarineAbstract
Military personnel who practice shooting are often exposed to high levels of noise, thus being more predisposed to noise-induced hearing loss development. This study aims at evaluating the prevalence of auditory symptoms in the Portuguese Marine Corps. The methodology used was based on the application of a questionnaire to the military. Sociodemographic characteristics, exposure to noise, presence of auditory symptoms and otorhinolaryngological history were questioned. The results showed that, although nearly all military personnel wearing hearing protection, the prevalence of immediate and long-term symptoms of hearing loss was 43.3% and 48.3%, respectively. There was a weak positive correlation between the duration and intensity of noise and the presence of subjective hearing loss. This study suggests that it is necessary to verify these data with audiometric evaluation and it is essential to implement monitoring and prevention programs for the hearing health of marines.
Downloads
References
Flint P, Haughey B, Lund V, Robbins K, Thomas JR, Lesperance M. editors. et al. Cummings Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021.
Natarajan N, Batts S, Stankovic KM. Noise-induced hearing loss. J Clin Med. 2023 Mar 17;12(6):2347. doi: 10.3390/jcm12062347.
Noise induced trauma [Internet]. Journey into the world of hearing. 2024 [cited 2025 Apr 7]. Available from: https://www.cochlea.eu/en/pathology/surdites-neuro-sensorielles/traumatisme-acoustique/
World Health Organization. World report on hearing [Internet]. www.who.int. 2021. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240020481
NIOSH/Criteria for a Recommended Standard--Occupational Noise Exposure, 1998 [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 1]. Available from: https://www.nonoise.org/hearing/criteria/criteria.htm#chap6
Noise and Hearing Protection Fact Sheet [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 2]. Available from: https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/videoresource/fsnoise.pdf?utm
Alsaab FA, Alaraifi AK, Alhomaydan WA, Ahmed AZ, Elzubair AG. Hearing impairment in military personnel in Eastern Saudi Arabia. J Family Community Med. 2021 May-Aug;28(2):110-116. doi: 10.4103/jfcm.JFCM_501_20.
Humes LE, Joellenbeck LM, Durch JS. Editors. Noise and military service: implications for hearing loss and tinnitus. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2006. 338 p. https://doi.org/10.17226/11443
Helfer TM, Canham-Chervak M, Canada S, Mitchener TA. Epidemiology of hearing impairment and noise-induced hearing injury among U.S. military personnel, 2003-2005. Am J Prev Med. 2010 Jan;38(1 Suppl):S71-7. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.10.025.
Ylikoski ME, Ylikoski JS. Hearing loss and handicap of professional soldiers exposed to gunfire noise. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1994 Apr;20(2):93-100. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.1415.
Jordan NN, Lee RB, Helfer TM. Noise-induced hearing injury among army active duty soldiers deployed to the central command area of operations. Semin Hear 2009; 30(1): 028-037 DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1111104
Yong J, Wang DY. Impact of noise on hearing in the military. Mil Med Res. 2015 Feb 25:2:6. doi: 10.1186/s40779-015-0034-5.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Cláudia Geraldes, Beatriz de Sá Nicolau, Carlos Tomaz, Marta Mariano, Tiago Velada, Joana Nascimento, Susana Pereira, Herédio Sousa
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
