"Beyond the Bang" - How Repeated Blasts Quietly Steal Hearing
Introduction:
Military Servicemembers are often exposed to low-level blasts during training, which are different from the loud noises commonly found in industrial settings or other noisy workplaces. These blasts generate a unique type of energy, that affects the ear differently, leading to both immediate and long-term hearing damage. This study examined how these repeated low-level blasts affect the hearing of Servicemembers over time.
Study Setup:
This study was approved by a Canadian military ethics board. It included two groups: 46 Servicemembers who took part in training exercises using controlled blasts and 42 comparable individuals who were exposed to loud noise but not to blast events. Researchers collected health and background information. They used several statistical methods to look for patterns and compare results between the two groups.
Results:
The results showed that people exposed to blasts (blast overpressure) were more likely to report hearing problems like ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Their hearing was worse, especially at high frequencies (above 4 kHz). The more blasts they experienced in a single training session and throughout their careers, the more their hearing declined. The study also found that not everyone was affected the same way. Differences in hearing loss may result from factors such as the effectiveness of protective gear or the level of blast energy exposure.
Conclusion:
Military members who are repeatedly exposed to blasts during training or over their careers often suffer hearing problems. These hearing issues can get worse over time, especially with repeated exposure. To better treat and prevent these injuries, we need improved ways to measure and understand how blast-related hearing damage happens and changes over time.
Impact of Low-Level Blast Exposure From Military Training and Career Cumulation on Hearing Outcomes. Kaela Shea, Oshin Vartanian, Shawn G. Rhind, Catherine Tenn, Ann Nakashima Military Medicine, 00, 0/0:1, 2025 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usaf055
This research was supported by funding from the Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces Health Services and approved by the CAF Surgeon General's Health Research Program.
Your 15 minute session will timeout in approximately 10 minutes.
If you're in the middle of entering information, please close this warning and save your progress (if possible) or finish up your task.
If your session fully times out, you will lose any un-saved work.
Your current Blast Injury Research Program session has expired.
Your next click will take you away from the private area, and you will lose any work you have in-progress.
Please enter your email address, and try again.