title: Chronic occupational stress exposure may increase the vulnerability to acoustic trauma in military professionals.
abstract: Today little is known about the connection between chronic stress exposure and hearing loss. These effects cannot be explained by differences in HPA axis response but recent studies saying that chronic stress induced limbic system alterations spread to nonlimbic areas affecting auditory system might be the key. On the other hand we know that subjects exposed to chronic stress may prove hypersensitivity to novel stressors. The aim of this study is to confirm that occupational chronic stress (OCS) exposure determines vulnerability to acoustic trauma and to establish a method to identify individuals at risk prior to their exposure to high intensity acoustic stimulus.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 military personnel with known acoustic trauma injury evidentiated through audiograms and occupational chronic stress exposure quantified through validated questionnaires were exposed to mild novel stressor: occupational medicine evaluation and clinically assessed for maladaptive cardiovascular response (MCVR). Employees were split in two groups, group 1 (MCVR) and group 2 (non MCVR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found positive correlation between level of perceived OCS and level of hearing loss on entire group and between groups with values of parameters significantly higher in group 1. Subjects exposed to OCS with hypersensitivity to novel stressor evidentiated through maladaptive cardiovascular stress response may be more vulnerable to high intensity acoustic stimulus and consequently acoustic trauma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Establishing methods and biomarkers that help us indentify individuals at risk of developing acoustic trauma might decrease the high burden of hearing loss.
authors.forename: Ciumaşu-Rimbu
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Mălina
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D001299:Audiometry; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors