Blast Injuries of the Ear in Military Operations

Exposure to blast waves from the explosion of ordnance is a common feature of combat operations. The ear is the organ most sensitive to such strong pressure waves. Blast damage to the ear may range from minor acoustic trauma to major disruption of middle and inner ear structures. Standard hearing protectors should offer a significant degree of shielding from these injuries. Aural injury alone seldom should cause a soldier to abandon a combat mission. However, the potential for a large temporary or permanent neurosensory hearing loss does raise issues about such a soldier's effectiveness on the modern, communication-intensive battlefield. Further research is necessary on mechanisms of injury, protective measures, and the effect of hearing loss on military performance.