Temporary Deafness Due to Gunfire

Modern Weapons and the Human Ear

“…In order to realise the significance of the above hearing losses it is important to appreciate that a loss of 30 dB at any of the higher frequencies means that a tone in these frequencies which is just heard by a normal ear has to be raised by 30 dB in order to be heard by a deafened ear (Murray and Reid, 1946).…”

A Review of the Nature and Problem of Impulse Noise Damage to the Soldiers Hearing and its Prevention

“…If the blast pressures are considerable the cochlear damage resulting may be associated with rupture of the tympanum, haemorrhage and damage to the auditory ossic1es. Murray and Reid (1946) put a value of about 8lb f in 2 (1.16 x 10-3 NJm 2 ) required in a blast pulse to produce such damage.…”

Effects of Overpressure on the Ear: A Review

“…4 5 , 4 6 After reviewing a substantial amount of the pertinent literature, one is forced to co.,clude that the proper and faithful use of an ear defender in a traumatically noisy environment, or where a real hazard of blast injury exists, is wise and worthwhile. 32, 34,40,47 The placement of gun crew members should certainly be made with the threat of muzzle blast in mind. Wherever the muzzle blast overpressure approaches 4 psi, the crew members should be protected by ear defenders.…”