Risk Factors for Hearing Loss as a Result of Exposure to Noise During Military Training in the IDF

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced
• Interventions: Other: Guidance on auditory protection

• Registration Number: NCT03314116
• Lead Sponsor: Medical Corps, Israel Defense Force

Brief Summary

As part of the proposed work, the investigators would like to examine whether there is a need to use a training video to train IDF combat soldiers to improve the use of ear plugs and to prevent hearing loss from exposure to noise, and to characterize the hearing impaired epidemiology of recruits and the basic rate of hearing loss During basic training.

Detailed Description

1. Auditory screening examination using an OAE (Oto Acoustic Emission) device during the first week of training in the unit and before starting to be exposed to noise .

2. If the indication obtained by the OAE device is negative, the soldier will be transferred to perform an audiometer test by a medic.

3. If the audiometer is subjected to a significant drop (over 25 decibels), the soldier will be referred to an audiologic examination that includes a comprehensive hearing test and an examination by the ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat).

4. All participants will be randomly assigned to two groups after signing an agreement form:

A - The video group - will be guided by a screening of a 7 minute video that explains the importance of using ear plugs and correct installation.

B- The control group, will be instructed to use earplugs properly, including practical exercises by a medic.

5. After two months of training, all participants will undergo further instruction in the use of earplugs, the video clip group and the control group trained by a medic only,

6. Towards the end of the training After six months of the recruitment, the investigators will perform an additional hearing test for all the participants in order to compare the results to the examination performed near their recruitment. Similar to the first stage, the test will be performed using an OAE device.

7. A comparison shall be made in the auditory results data between the group that underwent training via video and the control group.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-08-01
• Study First Submitted: 2017-09-16
• Status Verified: 2017-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-10-14
• Study First Posted: 2017-10-19
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-10-28
• Last Update Posted: 2017-10-31
• Primary Completion: 2018-04-01
• Study Completion: 2018-08-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 900

Inclusion Criteria

• Soldiers who joined the IDF from August 2018

Exclusion Criteria

• Lack of informed consent.
• recruits who have auditory impairment that is disqualified from fighting

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
video group	Guidance on auditory protection	guided by a 7-minute video that explains the importance of using ear plugs and correct installation.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Comparative impact of military training (infantry, armor and artillery) on hearing loss after full training	12 months	The study will measure hearing loss using an Oto Acoustic Emission (OAE) measuring device and an Audiometer test. The results after complete training will be compared against the results obtained prior to training

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage of soldiers in combat units which suffer from hearing loss after completing military training classified to the two groups in the study	12 months	The study will investigate the effectiveness of a demonstration video as an audio protection tutorial to prevent hearing loss from exposure to noise in trained fighters. This will be measured against a control group which undergo frontal demonstration by a medic.
Percentage of soldiers in combat units which suffer from hearing loss before starting military training	12 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

IDF; 🇮🇱 Tel Aviv, Israel