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Kuo CY, Hung CL, Chen HC, Shih CP, Lu RH, Chen CW, Hung LW, Lin YC, Chen HK, Chu DM, Lin YY, Chen YC, Wang CH. The Immediate and Long-Term Impact of Military Aircraft Noise on Hearing: A Cross-Sectional Comparison of Fighter Pilots and Ground Staff. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:ijerph18062982. [PMID: 33799421 PMCID: PMC7999744 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18062982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We examined the immediate and long-term impacts of military aircraft noise exposure on noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in fighter pilots and ground staff. We recruited 40 pilots, 40 ground staff, and 136 age-matched controls; all participants underwent hearing tests, including conventional pure-tone audiometry (PTA) (0.25–8.0 kHz), extended high-frequency (EHF) audiometry (9.0–18.0 kHz), and distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) as a recent reference. A subsequent hearing test immediately after flight-mission noise exposure was requested. The results revealed higher recent hearing thresholds in pilots and ground staff than in controls. Threshold shifts at many octave band frequencies were also significantly elevated in ground staff. The grouped frequency threshold was significantly elevated in the 4–8 kHz high-frequency range. After a single flight-mission noise exposure, both ground staff and pilots showed decreased signal-to-noise ratios for DPOAE (1–8 kHz), whereas only ground staff showed significantly elevated left-ear hearing thresholds at 3, 11.2, and 12.5 kHz by conventional and EHF PTA. Fighter pilots and ground staff serve in hazardous noise-exposed environments that cause hearing damage and subsequent NIHL, but ground staff may be more vulnerable. A comprehensive hearing conservation program should be implemented to protect high-risk service members, and especially ground staff, from high-intensity noise exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Yin Kuo
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (C.-Y.K.); (H.-C.C.); (C.-P.S.); (R.-H.L.); (L.-W.H.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-Y.L.)
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, National Central University, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Lien Hung
- Taichung Armed Forces General Hospital, Taichung 41168, Taiwan;
| | - Hsin-Chien Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (C.-Y.K.); (H.-C.C.); (C.-P.S.); (R.-H.L.); (L.-W.H.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-Y.L.)
| | - Cheng-Ping Shih
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (C.-Y.K.); (H.-C.C.); (C.-P.S.); (R.-H.L.); (L.-W.H.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-Y.L.)
| | - Rou-Huei Lu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (C.-Y.K.); (H.-C.C.); (C.-P.S.); (R.-H.L.); (L.-W.H.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-Y.L.)
| | - Chen-Wai Chen
- School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (C.-W.C.); (D.-M.C.)
| | - Li-Wen Hung
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (C.-Y.K.); (H.-C.C.); (C.-P.S.); (R.-H.L.); (L.-W.H.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-Y.L.)
| | - Yi-Chun Lin
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan;
| | - Hang-Kang Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (C.-Y.K.); (H.-C.C.); (C.-P.S.); (R.-H.L.); (L.-W.H.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-Y.L.)
- Taichung Armed Forces General Hospital, Taichung 41168, Taiwan;
| | - Da-Ming Chu
- School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (C.-W.C.); (D.-M.C.)
| | - Yuan-Yung Lin
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (C.-Y.K.); (H.-C.C.); (C.-P.S.); (R.-H.L.); (L.-W.H.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-Y.L.)
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan;
| | - Yueh-Chun Chen
- School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (C.-W.C.); (D.-M.C.)
- Correspondence: (Y.-C.C.); (C.-H.W.); Tel.: +886-2-27303742 (Y.-C.C.); +886-2-87927192 (C.-H.W.); Fax: +886-2-27303742 (Y.-C.C.); +886-2-87927193 (C.-H.W.)
| | - Chih-Hung Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (C.-Y.K.); (H.-C.C.); (C.-P.S.); (R.-H.L.); (L.-W.H.); (H.-K.C.); (Y.-Y.L.)
- Taichung Armed Forces General Hospital, Taichung 41168, Taiwan;
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan;
- Correspondence: (Y.-C.C.); (C.-H.W.); Tel.: +886-2-27303742 (Y.-C.C.); +886-2-87927192 (C.-H.W.); Fax: +886-2-27303742 (Y.-C.C.); +886-2-87927193 (C.-H.W.)
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Abstract
The execution of teamwork varies widely depending on the domain and task in question. Despite the considerable diversity of teams and their operation, researchers tend to aim for unified theories and models regardless of field. However, we argue that there is a need for translation and adaptation of the theoretical models to each specific domain. To this end, a case study was carried out on fighter pilots and it was investigated how teamwork is performed in this specialised and challenging environment, with a specific focus on the dependence on technology for these teams. The collaboration between the fighter pilots is described and analysed using a generic theoretical model for effective teamwork from the literature. The results show that domain-specific application and modification is needed in order for the model to capture fighter pilot's teamwork. The study provides deeper understanding of the working conditions for teams of pilots and gives design implications for how tactical support systems can enhance teamwork in the domain. Practitioner summary: This article presents a qualitative interview study with fighter pilots based on a generic theoretical teamwork model applied to the fighter domain. The purpose is to understand the conditions under which teams of fighter pilots work and to provide guidance for the design of future technological aids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrika Ohlander
- a Saab AB , Saab Aeronautics , Linköping , Sweden
- b University of Skövde , Skövde , Sweden
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