The Characteristics and Prognosis of Acute Hearing Loss in Military Personnel

Abstract

Introduction: The military population is one of the high-risk groups for acute hearing loss. This retrospective study aims to examine acute acoustic trauma (AAT) and idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) among military personnel. Materials and Methods: A total of 111 cases of acute hearing loss from a tertiary hospital between 2009 and 2021 were divided into AAT (53 cases) and ISSNHL (58 cases) groups. The time interval between trauma and treatment initiation, accompanying symptoms, and hearing thresholds before and after treatment were examined for all cases. Results: Two-thirds of the AAT group participants experienced damage to the left ear, and all individuals in this group presented with tinnitus at the time of trauma, but vertigo was less common in the AAT group than in the ISSNHL group. Hearing improvement after treatment was significant in both groups. An intergroup comparison of post-treatment hearing recovery revealed that prognosis was primarily determined by the initial severity of hearing loss rather than the underlying condition of AAT or ISSNHL. Conclusions: This finding emphasizes the importance of prompt and aggressive treatment in severe cases and the need for tailored strategies within military healthcare systems to improve hearing outcomes.