Cochlear dysfunction with acoustic trauma in fire shooting training

Abstract

Acoustic trauma risk for athlete shooter is huge. Continuous exposure to firearms may further increase the risk of acoustic trauma. Continuous exposure causes damage to hair cells in the cochlea that cause cochlear dysfunction and will increase the hearing threshold. The aim of this study was to determine the difference of hair cell damage in cochlea which can cause cochlear dysfunction due to acoustic trauma after shooting practice based on duration and frequency of training. There was no statistically significant difference in audiogram results between the first group and the second group (Mann-Whitney U Test, p<0.05). The distortion product of otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) showed a significant difference between the first group and the second group (Mann-Whitney U Test, p<0.05). Different test results on audiogram and DPOAE between right and left in each group showed no significant difference (Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, p<0,05). There was a significant difference in the incidence of hair cell damage in cochlea with the duration and frequency of training.