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The Immediate and Long-Term Impact of Military Aircraft Noise on Hearing: A Cross-Sectional Comparison of Fighter Pilots and Ground Staff

Author

Listed:
  • Chao-Yin Kuo

    (Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, National Central University, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan)

  • Chia-Lien Hung

    (Taichung Armed Forces General Hospital, Taichung 41168, Taiwan)

  • Hsin-Chien Chen

    (Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Cheng-Ping Shih

    (Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Rou-Huei Lu

    (Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Chen-Wai Chen

    (School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Li-Wen Hung

    (Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Yi-Chun Lin

    (Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Hang-Kang Chen

    (Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    Taichung Armed Forces General Hospital, Taichung 41168, Taiwan)

  • Da-Ming Chu

    (School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Yuan-Yung Lin

    (Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Yueh-Chun Chen

    (School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Chih-Hung Wang

    (Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    Taichung Armed Forces General Hospital, Taichung 41168, Taiwan
    Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

Abstract

We examined the immediate and long-term impacts of military aircraft noise exposure on noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in fighter pilots and ground staff. We recruited 40 pilots, 40 ground staff, and 136 age-matched controls; all participants underwent hearing tests, including conventional pure-tone audiometry (PTA) (0.25–8.0 kHz), extended high-frequency (EHF) audiometry (9.0–18.0 kHz), and distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) as a recent reference. A subsequent hearing test immediately after flight-mission noise exposure was requested. The results revealed higher recent hearing thresholds in pilots and ground staff than in controls. Threshold shifts at many octave band frequencies were also significantly elevated in ground staff. The grouped frequency threshold was significantly elevated in the 4–8 kHz high-frequency range. After a single flight-mission noise exposure, both ground staff and pilots showed decreased signal-to-noise ratios for DPOAE (1–8 kHz), whereas only ground staff showed significantly elevated left-ear hearing thresholds at 3, 11.2, and 12.5 kHz by conventional and EHF PTA. Fighter pilots and ground staff serve in hazardous noise-exposed environments that cause hearing damage and subsequent NIHL, but ground staff may be more vulnerable. A comprehensive hearing conservation program should be implemented to protect high-risk service members, and especially ground staff, from high-intensity noise exposure.

Suggested Citation

  • Chao-Yin Kuo & Chia-Lien Hung & Hsin-Chien Chen & Cheng-Ping Shih & Rou-Huei Lu & Chen-Wai Chen & Li-Wen Hung & Yi-Chun Lin & Hang-Kang Chen & Da-Ming Chu & Yuan-Yung Lin & Yueh-Chun Chen & Chih-Hung , 2021. "The Immediate and Long-Term Impact of Military Aircraft Noise on Hearing: A Cross-Sectional Comparison of Fighter Pilots and Ground Staff," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:2982-:d:516762
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xiaowen Li & Xing Rong & Zhi Wang & Aihua Lin, 2020. "Association between Smoking and Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-14, February.
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