[study of acoustic trauma in hunters using otoacoustic emission recording].

Transitory otoacoustic emissions (TOAE) were analyzed in 48 ears of male hunters (age range: 30-45 years: mean age: 37 years) and in a population with normal hearing. All the ears had TOAE. The incidence of TOAE for the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 KHz frequential bands was significantly lower in hunters than in the normal subjects (p < 0.001). The mean amplitude of TOAE was significantly lower in hunters (9.2 dB SPL) than in the control group (16 dB SPL; p < 0.001). The amplitude of the TOAE for the frequencies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 KHz was significantly lower in hunters than in controls (p < 0.001).