Journal article
Blast Exposure and Self-Reported Hearing Difficulty in Service Members and Veterans Who Have Normal Pure-Tone Hearing Sensitivity: The Mediating Role of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Journal of speech, language, and hearing research, Vol.64(11), pp.4458-4467
01 Nov 2021
PMID: 34582257
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Purpose Evidence suggests that military blast exposure may lead to self-reported hearing difficulties despite audiometrically normal hearing. Research identifying potential mechanisms of this association remains limited. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the associations between blast, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and self-reported hearing difficulty, and to examine PTSD as a possible mediator of the association between blast exposure and hearing difficulty. Method We used baseline data from the Noise Outcomes in Service members Epidemiology (NOISE) study (
= 477). Participants in this study undergo a comprehensive hearing, and tinnitus if applicable, evaluation and complete a large number of surveys. Pertinent data extracted from these surveys included information on participant's demographics, military service history, including exposure to blast, and health conditions such as symptoms of PTSD. Using regression models and following a formal causal mediation framework, we estimated total associations, natural direct and indirect associations, and percent mediated. Results We found that individuals with blast exposure had higher prevalence of both probable PTSD and self-reported hearing difficulty than individuals who were not blast exposed. Compared with participants without blast exposure, those with blast exposure had twice the prevalence of self-reported hearing difficulty, with 41% of the association mediated through probable PTSD. Conclusion As PTSD is a possible mediator of the association between blast exposure and hearing difficulty, Service members and Veterans with normal pure-tone hearing sensitivity who report hearing difficulties and a history of blast exposure may benefit from evaluation for PTSD symptoms. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.16674247.
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Details
- Title
- Blast Exposure and Self-Reported Hearing Difficulty in Service Members and Veterans Who Have Normal Pure-Tone Hearing Sensitivity: The Mediating Role of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Creators
- Kelly M Reavis - VA Portland Health Care SystemJonathan M Snowden - Oregon Health & Science UniversityJames A Henry - VA Portland Health Care SystemFrederick J Gallun - VA Portland Health Care SystemM Samantha Lewis - School of Audiology, Pacific University, Hillsboro, ORKathleen F Carlson - VA Portland Health Care System
- Publication Details
- Journal of speech, language, and hearing research, Vol.64(11), pp.4458-4467
- Grant note
- I01 RX003701 / RRD VA IK6 RX002990 / RRD VA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Audiology - Distance
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000718136100023
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85121318297
- Other Identifier
- 991022058592504721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Audiology & Speech-language Pathology
- Linguistics
- Rehabilitation