Acute Acoustic Trauma after Exposure to Assault Rifle Noise among Conscripts in the Finnish Defence Forces-A...

Area of Science:

• Military Medicine
• Audiology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Conscripts face impulse noise exposure despite hearing protection guidelines.
• Acute Acoustic Trauma (AAT) is a risk in military settings.
• Understanding AAT frequency in conscripts is crucial for hearing conservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of AAT among conscripts exposed to assault rifle noise in the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF).
• To identify specific circumstances contributing to AAT in this population.

Main Methods:

• Nationwide population-based cohort study of over 220,000 conscripts in the FDF (1997-2003, 2008-2010).
• Inclusion of conscripts reporting AAT symptoms after assault rifle noise exposure.
• Analysis of incident reports, weapon types, use of blank cartridges, and hearing protection.

Main Results:

• 1617 conscripts experienced new hearing loss due to AAT over 10 years.
• 90% of AAT cases involved rifle-caliber weapons, often firing blank cartridges.
• 88% of incidents occurred without hearing protector use; tinnitus was the most common symptom.

Conclusions:

• 0.7-1.5% of conscripts experienced AAT during service.
• AAT is frequently linked to firing blank cartridges with rifles without hearing protection.
• The study highlights a persistent issue with AAT incidence and inadequate hearing protection use.