Postdeployment Hearing Loss in U.S. Army Soldiers Seen at Audiology Clinics from April 1, 2003, through March 31, 2004

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA454985 | Open PDF

Abstract:

U.S. Army soldiers face unique noise exposures in the current deployed setting. The effects of these deployment-related exposures have not previously been documented. In an attempt to initiate this process, medical evaluations performed at military audiology clinics from April 2003 through March 2004 were reviewed to compare noise-induced hearing loss injury NIHLI outcomes among soldiers whose diagnoses were classified as postdeployment-related versus non-postdeployment-related. Sentinel NIHLI outcomes of interest included acoustic trauma, permanent threshold shift, eardrum perforation, tinnitus, and military-specific H-3 and H-4 hearing loss profiles. The results show that significantly higher rates of NIHLI and associated outcomes were observed among soldiers whose diagnoses were postdeployment-related. Based on the findings from this evaluation, recommendations are provided for enhancing the force health protection posture for prevention of hearing loss in future deployments. Key Words noise-induced hearing loss injury, surveillance, postdeployment, evidence-based practice

Author(s):
Helfer, Thomas M. ; Jordan, Nikki N. ; Lee, Robyn B.
Author Organization(s):
ARMY CENTER FOR HEALTH PROMOTION AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND MD
Descriptive Note:
Journal article
Supplementary Note:
Pub. in the American Journal of Audiology, v14, p161-168, Dec 2005.
Annotation:
Reprint: Postdeployment Hearing Loss in U.S. Army Soldiers Seen at Audiology Clinics from April 1, 2003, through March 31, 2004
Pagination:
0009

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Monitor Series:
USACHPPM
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_1.4_Force Support; JCA_1.4.1_Force Health Protection; JCA_2_Battlespace Awareness; JCA_2.1_Planning and Direction; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_2.1.4_Evaluation; JCA_1.1_Force Management; JCA_5.3.3_Develop Strategy; JCA_4.1_Deployment and Distribution; JCA_5.3.4_Develop Courses of Action; JCA_5.3.5_Analyze Courses of Action; JCA_6.4.1_Secure Information Exchange; JCA_5.2_Understand; JCA_6_Net Centric; JCA_3.2_Engagement; JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_5.2.3_Share Knowledge and Situational Awareness; JCA_3.2.1_Kinetic Means; JCA_5.6.3_Assess Achievement of Objectives
Communities of Interest:
Biomedical
Descriptor(s):
*DEPLOYMENT, *ARMY PERSONNEL, *PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS, *COMBAT FORCES, *EXPOSURE(PHYSIOLOGY), *AUDITORY DEFECTS, *NOISE(SOUND), MILITARY OPERATIONS, THRESHOLDS(PHYSIOLOGY), HEARING, PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, IRAQI WAR, EAR PROTECTORS, TRAUMA, NOISE POLLUTION, MEDICAL RESEARCH, LOSSES, DIAGNOSIS(MEDICINE), RISK, REPRINTS
Field(s)/Group(s):
Anatomy and Physiology, Medicine and Medical Research, Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics, Noise Pollution and Control
Keyword(s):
*HEARING LOSS, DEPLOYMENT SETTINGS, MILITARY AUDIOLOGY CLINICS, NIHLI(NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS INJURY), ACOUSTIC TRAUMA, PERMANENT THRESHOLD SHIFT, EARDRUM PERFORATION, TINNITUS, POSTDEPLOYMENT HEARING LOSS, EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE, IRAQI FREEDOM OPERATION, LOUD NOISE EXPOSURE, HEALTH SURVEILLANCE
Report Date:
2005 Dec 01
Creation Date:
2006 Oct 11