Inconsistent and ineffective use of hearing protection devices places individuals exposed to combat noise at high risk for auditory injury. Despite this, a standardized protocol for assessing hearing shortly after combat noise exposure is currently lacking. However, early evaluation is essential for medical decision-making and also for guiding rehabilitation and mitigating long-term communication challenges. In this study, 100 individuals were evaluated in a tertiary hospital setting shortly after exposure to combat noise using a comprehensive audiological protocol. The assessment battery included conventional audiometry (250–8000 Hz), extended high-frequency audiometry, immittance testing, otoacoustic emissions (to detect outer hair cell damage), and in-depth history-taking regarding questions such as noise exposure, hearing protection use, and tinnitus. Results demonstrated that each assessment tool was necessary: in some cases, only a single test identified damage to the auditory system. Few studies have investigated hearing soon after combat exposure using such a broad battery. These results support the need for an extensive protocol. Relying solely on standard audiometry risks overlooking damage. The study reinforces the critical importance of hearing protection and demonstrates the clinical utility of multi-modal assessment in capturing the full spectrum of noise-induced hearing injury.
Adelman et al. (Wed,) studied this question.