The effect of loud noise to the army personnel is often identifi ed when hearing loss had already developed. Acoustic trauma during shooting training can also lead to acute changes in the ear which is shown on otoscopic examination. This study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of hearing protective device (earplug) on the prevalence of external ear changes amongst military personnel during shooting. This is a prospective cross sectional study that was conducted among 76 military personnel, who were divided into two groups: those with and without earplugs during shooting. Each participant underwent 3 otoscopic examinations: (a) pre-shooting, (b) immediate post-shooting (within 48 hours) and (c) 2 weeks after shooting. A total of 78 army personnel who were scheduled to undergo shooting training were otoscopically examined. Eighty three percent of them did not wear earplugs before. The percentage of infl ammation of external auditory canal and tympanic membrane dullness increased tremendously among subjects from non–earplug group less than 48 hours post-shooting. Assessment after 2 weeks showed improvement in around 30% of the subjects. Loud noise has become an occupational hazard not only to the inner ear but it also predisposes the external and middle ear structures to some form of injury. Although improvement is seen after some period, a protective device such as an earplug should be recommended and the usage should be reinforced among the army personnel involved in shooting.
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced

Otitis media is still a common infection and can be associated with complications if not treated early. We report the case of an elderly gentleman who presented with an abscess deep to the temporalis muscle ‘Luc’s abscess’, as a complication of otitis media. Henry Luc first described this condition a cen- tury ago and in the antibiotic era, such manifestation is now rarely seen. We report the case of a 73- year-old man diagnosed with Luc’s abscess who presented with a week’s history of right temporal swelling that was associated with fever, right ear pain and progressive hearing impairment. This case report is a reminder to clinicians of this rare but treatable complication of a very common disease in the community.