Noise and military service : implications for hearing loss and tinnitus

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY -- 1 OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEM AND INTRODUCTION -- Charge to the Committee -- Acoustics and Noise -- The Measurement of Hearing and Tinnitus -- Studying the Effects of Noise on Hearing and Tinnitus -- Approaches to Hearing Conservation -- Evaluating the Strength of Evidence -- The Committee's Report -- References -- 2 NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS -- Mechanisms and Models of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss -- Time Relation between Exposure to Noise and the Development of Hearing Loss and Cochlear Damage -- Risk Factors for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: Individual Differences and Nonacoustic -- Factors -- Estimating Noise-Induced Hearing Loss -- References -- 3 NOISE AND NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS IN THE MILITARY -- Noise in the Military Environment -- Evidence Regarding the Effects of Noise on Hearing Among U.S. Military Personnel -- Evidence Based on Average Hearing Thresholds -- Evidence Based on Variations in Hearing Thresholds Within Groups -- Epidemiological Studies of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Individuals with Prior -- Military Service -- Findings -- References. 4 TINNITUS -- Background -- Issues in Studying Tinnitus -- Occurrence of Tinnitus -- Tinnitus and Noise Exposure -- Tinnitus and Hearing Loss -- Other Risk Factors -- Tinnitus and U.S. Military Personnel -- References -- 5 RESPONDING TO NOISE RISKS: HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAMS IN -- THE MILITARY -- Hearing Conservation Programs -- History of Military Hearing Conservation Programs -- Assessing the Adequacy of Hearing Conservation Programs -- Assessing the Adequacy of Hearing Conservation Programs in the Military -- References -- 6 REPORTS OF AUDIOMETRIC TESTING IN SERVICE MEDICAL RECORDS OF -- MILITARY VETERANS -- Study Methods -- Results -- Compliance with Regulations -- References -- 7 CONCLUSIONS AND COMMENTS -- APPENDIXES -- A Legislative Language from Public Law 107-330 -- B Agendas for Information-Gathering Meetings -- C Definitions -- D Summary Tables on Epidemiological Studies -- E Results from Alternative Analyses of Data on Reports of Audiometric Testing in Service Medical Records -- F Selected Sources of Information on Sound Pressure Levels Measured in and Around -- Military Systems and Equipment -- G Department of Defense Hearing Conservation Report Forms -- H Biographical Sketches of Committee Members.