Abstract

HERNANDEZ SANCHEZ, Héctor. The military environment and noise-induced hearing impairments. Rev Cub Med Mil [online]. 2013, vol.42, n.3, pp. 396-402. ISSN 0138-6557.

Extremely high noise levels are characteristic of the military environment. Firearm detonations are considered to exceed the intensity of any industrial noise. The paper approaches the risk factors and vulnerabilities associated with exposure to noise in the military environment, as well as the most recent notions about noise-induced hearing injury and hearing protection. A review was conducted of the most representative papers on the topic using databases Medline and Hinari. Bibliography lists were searched for and created using Procite personal bibliographic reference manager. Google search engine was used to find references to the topic in journals, theses and Internet references. Results confirm the vulnerability of military personnel to suffer from noise-induced hearing injuries resulting from the high noise levels occurring in the military environment, the need to approach such injuries in a multidisciplinary manner, and the importance of implementing efficient hearing protection systems, with a view to improving the quality of life of persons exposed to noise and preventing hearing impairment, based on the certainty that prevention is always the best option.

Keywords : noise-induced hearing loss; noise-induced hearing injury; hearing impairment; vestibular dysfunction; tinnitus; central auditory processing disorders; blast injury; traumatic brain injury; hearing protection devices; hearing conservation program; hearing loss; otoprotection.

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