Risk factors and medical treatment of explosive deafness in university students after exposure to military noise

  Background  Military noise are mainly induced by weapons and equipment, vehicle engines, guns and cannons, etc., with high noise intensity. The probability of exposure to noise is generally high in cadets, so the risk of noise-induced hearing loss is relatively high.

  Objective  To analyze the risk factors and medical treatment of explosive deafness (ED) among university students exposed to military noise.

  Methods  From July 2020 to March 2021, 547 university students exposed to military noise in a military academy were selected by random number table method to conduct a questionnaire survey, and the results were statistically analyzed.

  Results  The incidence of ED in university students after the last exposure to military noise was 2.87%. Multivariate analysis showed that age ≥ 25 years old, cumulative exposure to military noise ≥ 6 months, cumulative shooting times ≥ 10, no hearing protection measures when exposed to military noise, last exposure to military noise intensity ≥ 130 dB, recent exposure to military noise source distance ＜ 3 km were independent risk factors for ED (all P＜0.05). After the last exposure to military noise, the consultation rate of students in the ED group was significantly higher than that in the control group (100% vs 24.81%, P＜0.05).

  Conclusion  There are many risk factors for ED in university students after exposure to military noise, and the cadets' consciousness of seeking medical treatment is relatively strong.