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Risk Factors for Hearing Decrement Among U.S. Air Force Aviation-Related Personnel
Brandon M Greenwell1, Anthony P Tvaryanas, Genny M Maupin
1InfoSciTex, a DCS Company, Dayton, OH, and the 711th Human Performance Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA.
Age and time in service modestly impact hearing sensitivity in U.S. Air Force personnel. However, specific aircraft type did not correlate with significant threshold shifts in hearing. Further research is needed to fully understand these occupational hearing risks.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health
- Aerospace medicine
- Audiology
Background:
- Hearing sensitivity changes are a concern in aviation personnel.
- Identifying factors contributing to hearing loss is crucial for prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze historical hearing data in U.S. Air Force aviation personnel.
- To determine factors associated with occupationally significant hearing sensitivity changes.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal, retrospective cohort analysis of audiogram records.
- Included active duty Air Force aviation personnel from 2013.
- Utilized random forest and mixed effects models to analyze predictors like age, time, gender, and Air Force Specialty Code.
Main Results:
- Age and time since baseline audiogram were associated with decreased hearing sensitivity and a higher likelihood of a non-H1 hearing profile.
- No predictors were significantly associated with the initial occurrence of a significant threshold shift (STS).
- Aircraft type, indicated by Air Force Specialty Code, was not linked to hearing sensitivity changes by STS metric.
Conclusions:
- Age and elapsed time are modest risk factors for hearing decrement in this population.
- Aircraft type was not a predictor of significant threshold shifts.
- Findings suggest a need for targeted hearing conservation strategies considering age and service duration.
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