[Analysis of hearing threshold shift measured by otoacoustic emissions in soldiers after shooting with use hearing protectors].
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to assess the influence of short-term impulse noise on the size of temporary threshold shift in soldiers using hearing protectors during exposure.


METHODS
The study covered 80 subjects with normal tympanic membrane and thresholds measured by pure tone audiometry lower than 20 dB. There were two groups: I--composed of 40 soldiers protected during shooting and II--comprised 40 young males which did not shoot (controls). Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions were performed by an ILO 292 Echoport Otodynamics device 3-5 min before shooting and 2 min, 1, 2 and 3 h after shooting.


RESULTS
The results showed that post-exposure changes in soldiers who used ear-muffs were not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of hearing protectors is strongly recommended because most of them seem to sufficiently attenuate impulse noise from firearms.
Olszewski
Jurek
J
Z Kliniki Otolaryngologii i Onkologii Laryngologicznej, Katedry Chirurgii Głowy i Szyi, Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Lodzi. jolszewski@lekarz.net
Miłońiski
Jarosław
J
Olszewski
Sławomir
S
D000328:Adult; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D004430:Ear Protective Devices; D005389:Firearms; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009623:Noise, Occupational; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; D012016:Reference Values