Blast Exposure Associations With Hearing Loss and Self-Reported Hearing Difficulty

Area of Science:

• Audiology and Hearing Science
• Military Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Military personnel, including Active-Duty Service Members (ADSM) and Veterans, are frequently exposed to blast events.
• Blast exposure is a significant concern for auditory health within the military population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the associations between military blast exposures and hearing loss.
• To investigate the relationship between blast exposures and self-reported hearing difficulties among ADSM and Veterans.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Noise Outcomes in Servicemembers Epidemiology (NOISE) study.
• Blast exposure was assessed via a comprehensive questionnaire.
• Hearing outcomes included pure-tone thresholds, Speech Recognition in Noise Test, Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA), and Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ)-12.

Main Results:

• Twenty-one percent of ADSM and 36.8% of Veterans reported blast exposure.
• Blast-exposed ADSM showed increased odds of high and extended-high frequency hearing loss.
• Blast exposure was associated with higher self-reported hearing difficulties (HHIA) and lower quality of hearing scores (SSQ-12) in both ADSM and Veterans.

Conclusions:

• Blast exposure is a common cause of hearing injury in the military.
• Blast exposure is significantly associated with hearing loss, particularly in higher frequencies, among ADSM.
• Self-perceived hearing ability is poorer in both ADSM and Veterans with a history of blast exposure.