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Do Flights Affect Hearing in Hot Air Balloon Pilots?
Didem Sahin Ceylan1, Yeter Sacli1,2, Gokce Gultekin1,3
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Audiology, Üsküdar University, Istanbul, Turkey.
American Journal of Audiology
|November 22, 2023
Summary
Hot air balloon pilots experience hearing loss, particularly at low and high frequencies, due to occupational noise and altitude. Longer experience correlates with worse hearing thresholds and eustachian tube dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Occupational Health
- Aerospace Medicine
Background:
- Occupational hearing impairment is a significant concern in aviation.
- Hot air balloon (HAB) pilots may be exposed to unique environmental factors like noise and altitude.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for pilot health and safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the occupational hearing effects on hot air balloon (HAB) pilots.
- To examine the relationship between the duration of piloting experience and hearing impairments.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 31 male HAB pilots and 32 male controls were recruited.
- Audiological assessments included tympanometry, eustachian tube function (ETF) tests, pure-tone audiometry, and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE).
Main Results:
- HAB pilots showed significantly worse pure-tone audiometry results at multiple frequencies in both ears compared to controls.
- Eustachian tube function was significantly impaired bilaterally in HAB pilots.
- Transient evoked otoacoustic emission results indicated poorer cochlear function in HAB pilots at specific frequencies.
- Duration of experience positively correlated with hearing threshold deterioration and negatively with TEOAE results in the left ear.
Conclusions:
- Noise and high altitude negatively impact HAB pilot hearing, affecting low and high frequencies.
- Eustachian tube dysfunction is prevalent in HAB pilots.
- Increased piloting experience is associated with diminished hearing capacity and eustachian tube function.
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