Hearing Loss and Irritability Reporting Without Vestibular Differences in Explosive Breaching Professionals.

ABSTRACT: Background: Blast exposure is a potential hazard in modern military operations and training, especially for some military occupations. Helmets, peripheral armor, hearing protection, and eye protection worn by military personnel provide some acute protection from blast effects but may not fully protect personnel against cumulative effects of repeated blast overpressure waves experienced over a career. The current study aimed to characterize the long-term outcomes of repeated exposure to primary blast overpressure in experienced career operators with an emphasis on the assessment of hearing and vestibular outcomes. Methods: Participants included experienced "breachers" (military and law enforcement explosives professionals who gain entry into structures through controlled deton

SUBMITTER: Modica CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7772348 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature