Sofia Jaffer, Muhammad Shakil Razi, Quartian Kar.
Effect of Gun Shooting Noise on Cochlea.
Pak J Otolaryngol Jan ;18(4):53-7.

This study was carried out in the audiology clinic of UKM at Jalan Temerloh, Kuala Lumpur. Audiological test results of police trainees, practicing gun shooting in police training center Kuala Lumpur, were compared with those who were not exposed to any loud noise. Selection of subjects was based on preset stringent criteria. Those with a history of hearing problem in the family, ear diseases, ear surgery, ototoxic medication, with a history of exposure to loud noise from personal stereo, rock concert, F-1 racing etc were excluded. A total of 36 subjects who fulfilled the selection criteria underwent thorough investigation. Their ages ranged between 19 and 25 years. Incidentally, all the subjects were male. Study group comprised of 19 police trainees. Control group consisted of 17 normal, healthy, young students. Subjects in the study group have had five shooting training sessions each, lasting for 1 to 11/s hours each. Subjects underwent otoscopy, tympanometry, pure-tone audiometry and distortion product otoacoustic emission test. Last shooting session was three weeks before the first audiological testing session. Statistical analysis revealed that pure tone threshold and absolute distortion product otoacoustic emission levels in the study group were significantly worse than in the control group. Although pure tone threshold of all the subjects was normal but, the DPOAE result of the study group revealed sign of cochlear damage. This is believed to be the effect of gun shooting. Our finding shows that DPOAE test is more sensitive than PTA in detecting the cochlear damage. Interestingly, supervisors in the police training centre are aware of the auditory damage caused by gun shooting yet, trainees were not using ear protectors during shooting practice. Auditory damage noted among police trainees can be avoided by making them use ear protectors, at least during their training sessions.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com