Decreased sound tolerance associated with blast exposure

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Military Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Blast exposure during the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars is linked to numerous auditory complaints in Service members and Veterans.
• Decreased sound tolerance, a condition involving adverse reactions to everyday sounds, is a significant auditory complaint.
• The relationship between blast exposure and decreased sound tolerance requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between blast exposure and decreased sound tolerance in United States Service members and Veterans.
• To analyze baseline data from the Noise Outcomes in Servicemembers Epidemiology (NOISE) Study.

Main Methods:

• Data from 426 participants (181 Service members, 245 Veterans) were analyzed.
• Logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for age and sex.
• Participants were categorized based on reported blast exposure and decreased sound tolerance.

Main Results:

• Among those with blast exposure, 33% of Service members and 48% of Veterans reported decreased sound tolerance.
• The adjusted OR for decreased sound tolerance was 1.4 for Service members and 1.9 for Veterans exposed to blasts.
• Blast exposure was significantly associated with decreased sound tolerance in Veterans (adjusted OR=1.9; CI=1.1-3.3).

Conclusions:

• Blast exposure is associated with an increased likelihood of reporting decreased sound tolerance in Service members and Veterans.
• The association between blast exposure and decreased sound tolerance is statistically significant in Veterans.
• Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms and implications of blast-related decreased sound tolerance.