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

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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
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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 . If the indication obtained by the OAE device is negative, the soldier will be transferred to perform an audiometer test by a medic. 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). 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. 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, 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. A comparison shall be made in the auditory results data between the group that underwent training via video and the control group.

Official Title
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Assessment of Risk Factors for Hearing Loss as a Result of Exposure to Noise During Military Training in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), and Examination of the Effectiveness of Hearing Protection Video vs Formal Training.

Conditions
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Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Guidance on auditory protection


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: All participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: The video group will be guided by a 7-minute video that explains the importance of using ear plugs and correct installation. The control group, will be instructed to use earplugs properly, including practical exercises by a medic
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: video group<br>guided by a 7-minute video that explains the importance of using ear plugs and correct installation. | Other: Guidance on auditory protection<br>* by video or medic<br>|
| No Intervention: control group<br>instructed to use earplugs properly, including practical exercises by a medic | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Comparative impact of military training (infantry, armor and artillery) on hearing loss after full training | 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 | 12 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Percentage of soldiers in combat units which suffer from hearing loss before starting military training |  | 12 months | 
| Percentage of soldiers in combat units which suffer from hearing loss after completing military training classified to the two groups in the study | 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. | 12 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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hearing loss During basic training, otoacoustic emission