Hostname: page-component-77f85d65b8-8v9h9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-03-28T20:21:05.537Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hearing loss associated with weapons noise exposure: when to investigate an asymmetrical loss

Part of: Noise, trauma and the ear

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

H. J. Cox  and
G. R. Ford
H. J. Cox
Affiliation:
Department of OtorhinolaryngologySouthampton University Hospitals NHS Trust. Tremona Road, Southampton, Hants SO9 4XY.
G. R. Ford*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngologyf. West Dorset Hospital. Damers Road, Dorchester. Dorset DT1 2JY.
*
Address for correspondence: Mr G. R. Ford, 10 High Street, Fordington, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1JZ.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the 'Save PDF' action button.

The air conduction thresholds in the right and left ears, and the interaural asymmetry of thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 kHz were measured in a group of 225 soldiers exposed to a variety of weapon noise who were referred for assessment because of a deterioration in hearing on routine testing. At 0.5 and I kHz the threshold levels rarely exceeded 25 dB and the interaural asymmetry was 10 dB or less in 90 per cent of cases. The degree of hearing loss and interaural asymmetry increased as the frequency increased, with the average loss being significantly greater in the left ear at 2, 3, 4 and 6 kHz.

Recommendations are made for the selection of cases of asymmetrical hearing loss exposed to weapon noise which require further investigation to exclude a retrocochlear cause or to define spurious hearing threshold levels.

Keywords

Hearing lossnoise inducedHearing losssensorineuralNoise

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 109 , Issue 4 , April 1995 , pp. 291 - 295
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1995

References

Alberti, P. W., Symons, F., Hyde, M. L. (1979) Occupational hearing loss. The significance of asymmetrical hearing thresholds. Acta Otolaryngologica 87: 255–263.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Axelsson, A., Jerson, T., Lindberg, U., Lindgren, F. (1981) Early noise-induced hearing loss in boys. Scandinavian Audiology 10: 91–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berger, C. H. (1983) Using the NRR to estimate the real world performance of hearing protectors. Sound and Vibration 17: 12–18.Google Scholar
Coles, R. R. A., Mason, S. M. (1984) The results of cortical electrical response audiometry in medicolegal investigations. British Journal of Audiology 18: 71–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coombe, D. H. (1980) Implications of the Army's audiometric screening. Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps 126: 18–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gold, S. R., Hunsaker, D. H., Haseman, E. M. (1991) Pseudohypoacusis in a military population. Ear, Nose and Throat Journal 70: 710–712.Google Scholar
Johnson, E. W. (1977) Auditory test results in 500 cases of acoustic neuroma. Archives of Otolaryngology 103: 152–158.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnson, K. O., Work, W. P., McCoy, G. (1956) Functional deafness. Annals of Otolaryngology 65: 154–170.Google Scholar
Kannan, P. M., Lipscomb, D. M. (1974) Bilateral hearing asymmetry in a large population. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 55: 1092–1094.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McGill, T. J. I., Schuknecht, H. F. (1976) Human cochlear changes in noise-induced hearing loss. Laryngoscope 86: 1293–1302.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moffat, D. A., Hardy, D. G., Baguley, D. M. (1989) Strategy and benefits of acoustic neuroma searching. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 103: 51–59.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pirila, T., Jounio-Ervasti, K., Sorri, M. (1991) Hearing asymmetry among left-handed and right-handed persons in a random population. Scandinavian Audiology 20: 223–226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riihikangas, P., Anttonen, H., Hassi, J., Sorri, M. (1980) Hearing loss and impulse noise during military service. Scandinavian Audiology 12 (suppl.): 292–297.Google Scholar
Robinson, D. W. (1985) The audiogram in hearing loss due to noise: a probability test to uncover other causation. Annals of Occupational Hygiene 29: 477–493.Google Scholar
Rudin, R., Rosenhall, U., Svardsvod, K. (1988) Hearing capacity in samples of men from the general population. Scandinavian Audiology 17: 3–10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smoorenburg, G. F., Mimpen, T. M. (1982) Assessment of personal hearing protection in practice. Scandinavian Audiology 16 (suppl.): 13–22.Google ScholarPubMed
Walden, B., Prosek, R., Worthington, D. (1975) The prevalence of hearing loss in selected US Army Branches. In US Army Medical Research and Development Command Interagency Washington D.C., No. 1A0745.Google Scholar
Ward, W. D. (1957) Hearing of naval aircraft maintenance personnel. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 29: 1289–1301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ylikoski, J., Pekkarinen, J., Starck, J. (1987) The efficiency of earmuffs against impulse noise from firearms. Scandinavian Audiology 16: 85–88.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ylikoski, J. (1989) Acute acoustic trauma in Finnish conscripts. Scandinavian Audiology 18: 161–165.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed