Lloyd Soderlund Laurel, McKenna Elizabeth A, Tastad Katie, Paul Marika
a The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base , Dayton , Ohio.
b The Epidemiology Consult Service, The United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base , Dayton , Ohio.
J Occup Environ Hyg. 2016;13(5):383-92. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2015.1123814.
The purpose of this study was to describe changes in hearing, using the permanent threshold shift metric, among United States Air Force servicemembers, including active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard components, for demographics, job categories, and career fields. In the United States Air Force, only servicemembers who are occupationally exposed routinely to hazardous noise are monitored. Audiogram records and demographic variables were analyzed for servicemembers from 2005-2011 using data from the Department of Defense system that captures occupational hearing tests worldwide. Results suggest that occupational hearing loss was larger in males than females, in officers than enlisted populations, and in Reserve and Air National Guard than in active duty. Compared to similar civilian career fields, active duty has lower prevalence rates for occupational hearing loss overall, although Reserve and Air National Guard prevalence rates were more similar to the civilian reported rates. The proportion of personnel with permanent threshold shifts varied between 4.6-16.7% within active duty career fields, which includes 76% of the population for study timeframe. Permanent threshold shift was larger in small job categories, and in jobs that are not considered exposed to hazardous noise routinely which is comparative with results from civilian data analysis of occupational hearing loss. Further investigation into testing practices for Air Force specific groups, use of the system for nonoccupational hearing testing, and challenges to follow-up compliance is warranted. Increased surveillance procedures for occupational hearing loss are needed to address concerns on the prevalence of servicemember hearing loss, the role of recreational and lifestyle factors to contribute the high reported hearing loss prevalence of veterans compared to nonveterans.
本研究的目的是使用永久性阈移指标，描述美国空军现役军人、后备役军人和空军国民警卫队成员在人口统计学、工作类别和职业领域方面的听力变化情况。在美国空军中，仅对日常职业暴露于有害噪声的军人进行监测。利用国防部系统的数据，对2005年至2011年军人的听力图记录和人口统计学变量进行了分析，该系统记录了全球范围内的职业听力测试情况。结果表明，职业性听力损失在男性中比女性更大，在军官中比士兵群体更大，在后备役军人和空军国民警卫队中比现役军人更大。与类似的平民职业领域相比，现役军人总体上职业性听力损失的患病率较低，尽管后备役军人和空军国民警卫队的患病率与平民报告的患病率更为相似。在现役职业领域中，永久性阈移人员的比例在4.6%至16.7%之间，这包括研究时间段内76%的人口。永久性阈移在小工作类别以及通常不被认为暴露于有害噪声的工作中更大，这与平民职业性听力损失数据分析的结果相当。有必要进一步调查空军特定群体的测试做法、该系统用于非职业性听力测试的情况以及后续合规方面的挑战。需要加强职业性听力损失的监测程序，以解决对军人听力损失患病率的担忧、娱乐和生活方式因素在导致退伍军人与非退伍军人相比报告的高听力损失患病率中所起的作用。
