title: Hearing in military personnel.
abstract: Impaired hearing is an occupational hazard prevalent not only in industry but also in the armed forces. A survey to establish its prevalence in the SAF land forces was conducted. A sample of 2,564 subjects obtained through multistage proportional sampling was studied of whom 1,521 "normal" subjects were finally analysed. 403 subjects i.e. 26.5%, showed evidence of impaired hearing. The highest incidence was in the Artillery. The frequency most commonly affected was 6,000 Hz and the commonest presenting symptom was tinnitus. A Hearing Conservation Programme is described. Comparisons with the situations in Singapore's industries are made.
mesh_terms: D004430:Ear Protective Devices; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine; D009790:Occupations; D012846:Singapore