Peculiarities of the acoustic reflex registration thresholds in relation to the parameters of the thresholds tone audiometry in patients with acute combat trauma

Abstract

Aim: study of threshold ratios between indicators of acoustic impedance and threshold tonal audiometry in military personnel – participants in hostilities. Materials and methods: the results of audiometric and impedancemetric examinations of 43 servicemen aged 18 to 42 years who received combat acute trauma in the period March-August 2022 and 20 patients with severe sensorineural deafness (2, 3, 4 stages according international classification) of non-acutraumatic genesis as a comparison group. Results and their discussion: During the examination of 43 soldiers, it was found that with significant sensorineural hearing loss on both sides (3 and 4 stages according international classification), the patients registered a full-fledged acoustic reflex during ipsilateral and contralateral stimulation. When conducting an impedanceometric examination of patients in the comparison group, it was found that in most patients the acoustic reflex was not registered at all. Conclusions: 1. In combat acute acoustic trauma, it is possible to register acoustic middle-ear-muscle reflex with severe hearing loss, which may be caused by damage to the receptor part of the auditory analyzer and the accompanying symptom of the phenomenon of accelerated loudness, by a central mechanism, or by a combination of central and peripheral mechanisms. 2. Dissociation of acoustic middle-ear-muscle reflex threshold values and threshold tonal audiometry is a characteristic feature of acutraumatic damage to the auditory analyzer. 3. Identified features, such as registration of acoustic middle-ear-muscle reflex in severe hearing loss, dissociation of acoustic reflex thresholds and tonal audiometry may be useful for further study of the pathogenesis of combat acute trauma, which, in turn, will contribute to improving the quality of diagnosis and finding ways to correct disorders of the auditory system in individuals, who suffered as a result of hostilities.