Hearing injuries in the frontline during the 2011 conflict of braiga, Libya

Introduction: Noise exposure causes different insults on hearing ranging from mild to severe damages. Objectives: We assessed the effects of acute auditory trauma on hearing at the front line of Braiga, near Benghazi, Libya, from February to November 2011. Patients and Methods: A total of 236 acoustic injury cases referred to audiology department, Hawari ENT Center, Benghazi, were studied. These cases were either seen directly after injury or referred from other hospitals after treatment of associated injuries. History, examination, and audiological assessment in the form of pure tone audiogram were done using Ad629 interacoustic. Results: A total of 236 cases were studied; aged 21–30 years. All were not using measures to protect ear and hearing. The majority of these cases (96.6%) complained of hearing loss and tinnitus. Most of the hearing loss (75.0%) was of the sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) type. More than 32% had moderate to severe hearing loss. Treatment was given according to type and degree of hearing loss. Patients who was diagnosed as hearing loss (H.L) of S.N type, treatment plan was either hyperbaric oxygenation, hearing aids or cochlear implants according to degree of H.L and availability of treatment. Conclusions: Explosions cause hearing insult of different types and different degrees. The most commonly noted type is sever to profound SNHL. Therapies needed included hearing aids in SNHL or tympanomastoidectomy in conductive hearing loss. Lack of use of hearing protective measures does increase the number of hearing problems in individuals at high risk.

Key-words:

Armed conflict - auditory trauma - hearing loss - mastoid exploration - myringotomy - noise - tinnitus - tympanoplasty

Publication History

Article published online:
07 July 2022