title: Audiologic characteristics in a sample of recently-separated military Veterans: The Noise Outcomes in Servicemembers Epidemiology Study (NOISE Study).
abstract: Military Service Members are often exposed to high levels of occupational noise, solvents, and other exposures that can be damaging to the auditory system. Little is known about hearing loss and how it progresses in Veterans following military service. This epidemiology study is designed to evaluate and monitor a cohort of Veterans for 20 years or more to determine how hearing loss changes over time and how those changes are related to noise exposure and other ototoxic exposures encountered during military service. Data reported here are from baseline assessments of the first 100 study participants (84 males; 16 females; mean age 33.5 years; SD 8.8; range 21-58). Each participant was asked to complete a comprehensive audiologic examination and self-report questionnaires regarding sociodemographic characteristics, noise and solvent exposures, health conditions common among post-deployment Veterans, and the social and emotional consequences of hearing loss. For this relatively young cohort, 29% exhibited hearing loss, defined as average hearing threshold >20 dB HL in the conventional audiometric range. Forty-two percent exhibited hearing loss in the extended-high-frequency audiometric range using the same criterion (average hearing threshold >20 dB HL). Certain factors were found to be associated with poorer hearing in both conventional and extended-high-frequency ranges, including age, type of military branch, years of military service, number of military deployments, noise exposure, tinnitus, and a positive screen for post-traumatic stress disorder. Although the majority of participants had hearing within normal limits, 27% reported a self-perceived mild/moderate hearing handicap and 14% reported a significant handicap. Further research is needed to identify a cause for this discrepancy in audiologic results versus self-report. The information obtained from this longitudinal study could be used in future resource planning with the goal of preventing, as much as possible, the development of hearing loss during military service, and the exacerbation of prevalent hearing loss after military service and over Veterans' lifetimes.
authors.affiliation: VA RR&D, National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR), Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States. Electronic address: jane.gordon@va.gov.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.affiliation: VA RR&D, National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR), Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States; Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, Portland, OR, United States.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Griest
authors.affiliation: VA RR&D, National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR), Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Thielman
authors.affiliation: VA RR&D, National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR), Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States; Oregon Health & Science University, School of Public Health, Portland, OR, United States; Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC), Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States.
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.affiliation: VA RR&D, National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR), Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Helt
authors.affiliation: VA RR&D, National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR), Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States; Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, Portland, OR, United States.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: VA RR&D, National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR), Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blankenship
authors.affiliation: VA RR&D, National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR), Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States; Oregon Health & Science University, School of Public Health, Portland, OR, United States.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.affiliation: VA RR&D, National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR), Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States; Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, Portland, OR, United States.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Theodoroff
authors.affiliation: VA RR&D, National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR), Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States; Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, Portland, OR, United States.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001302:Audiometry, Speech; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004243:Divorce; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing / Q000187:drug effects; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects; D013067:Speech Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents
keywords: Audiometry; Hearing loss; Noise exposure; TBI; Tinnitus; Veterans