Retrospective analysis of professional hearing loss of Аir-space forces military personnel

Research data on level and structure of sensorineural hearing loss among flight personnel who underwent medical and flight expertise for 2012-2016 is given. Among the analyzed evidences of the disease, 12,8% of military personnel have sensorineural hearing loss of varying degrees. The average age of the contingents tested was 42,1±0,5 years, however, the greatest number of cases occurred in the range of 40-44 years, with a flight time of 20,6±0,5 years in the study group. It was also revealed that bilateral hearing loss was observed in 72,28% cases, in 16,83% - left-sided and in 10,89% - right-sided, with prevalence of II degree in 48,51%, I degree in 35,15%; III degree in 15,35% and IV degree in 0,99% of the subjects. In addition, a significant prevalence of military personnel of the flight crew, dismissed from military service for health reasons, with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss of I and II degrees was revealed. So, among the discharged service members 6,44% had a steady decrease in hearing of both ears to the degree of whisper speech hearing at a distance of less than 1 m and are found not suitable for flight work;16,34% - had a persistent decrease in hearing with one ear to a degree of whisper speech hearing up to1 meter, while perceiving a whisper with another ear from 1 to 4 m and found to be not suitable for flight work; 34,16% had a steady decrease in hearing with one ear to a degree of whispered speech hearing up to 1 meter or close to an external ear, while it takes 4 m minimum hearing a whispered speech with another or it could be persistent hearing loss on both ears to a degree of perception of a whispered speech on each ear in limits from 2 to 3 m and which are not suitable for flight work; the remaining43,07% of the service members had initial manifestations of deafness without changing the category of workability. The information presented in this work justifies the development of measures for prevention of the pathology of the hearing organ expansion and progression and will help to justify the need of creating a center for hearing aid and cochlear implantation in the medical service of the Russian Federation Armed Forces.

hearing organ sensorineural hearing loss, military personnel, flight crew, medical and flight examination, tone audiometry, prevention of deafness, hearing aid, cochlear implantation