LM108 - Acoustic Weapons: Pirates, Prisoners, and Protests

Abstract: The field of audiology was born out of a period of worldwide political unrest; therefore, audiologists should anticipate an uptick in noise-induced injuries during the current period of political unrest. Providers should prepare to identify and treat modern-day acoustic trauma beyond typical firearm exposure, including exposure to stun grenades, long-range acoustic devices, and loud music, which have all been deployed as tactical weapons in peaceful protests, law enforcement raids, and military missions over the past year. This learning module will detail the uses, dangers, and legality of acoustic weapons, as well as strategies to protect patient and public hearing health.

Summary: This learning module addresses a modern and urgent topic: the controversial use of acoustic weapons during periods of political unrest and their short- and long-term effects on hearing. Attendees will achieve three primary learning objectives: 1) examine modern-day acoustic weapons and their deployment; 2) recognize clinical manifestations of acoustic trauma both within and beyond the audiogram; and 3) prepare the public with evidence-based hearing protection strategies applicable to lawful protests.

Learning objective 1 examines three categories of acoustic weapons - flash grenades, long-range acoustic devices (LRADs), and loud music used as a form of torture. LRADs were initially developed for naval defence following the bombing of the Navy U.S.S. Cole (an Al Qaeda pirate operation), serving as high-intensity communication or deterrent tools against approaching vessels. LRAD use has since controversially expanded into civilian contexts, including protest crowd-control, where incidents of acoustic trauma have been documented within the past year in Pittsburgh, New York City, and abroad in Serbia. A discussion about the legality of LRAD deployment in domestic law enforcement will be included in this objective. Flash grenades will be examined for their sound output levels and use in crowd control and tactical raids, illustrated by recent examples from ICE operations in California and National Guard activities in Chicago. Lastly, loud music was famously and controversially used as a psychological interrogation tactic at the Guantánamo Bay detention center (2001–2006), but we will examine more recent reports of loud music used as a form of torture in Russia-occupied Ukraine and Israel-occupied Gaza. Recent domestic cases will also be reviewed, in which loud music was weaponized against Oklahoma jail detainees and, separately, as a form of child abuse.

The second learning objective focuses on the pathophysiology and clinical detection of noise-induced injury. We will examine the differences between temporary threshold shift, permanent threshold shift, and selective cochlear synaptopathy, along with the lesser-known expected audiometric “noise notch” locations in adults versus children. Early indicators of injury, such as tinnitus, hyperacusis, outer hair cell dysfunction and extended high-frequency hearing loss willl be emphasized.
Learning objective three includes actionable recommendations for audiologists to translate knowledge into public action, particularly related to peaceful protesting. Primary protective strategies include maintaining distance and using physical barriers to reduce noise exposure, but beyond this, audiologists should capitilze on outreach measures in their community, such as distributing earplugs and clinic information at protests, offering customized hearing protection services (including billing for hearing protection device verification).

To promote interactivity, attendees will be polled (digitally) on their familiarity with acoustic weapons, perspectives on legality, and ways they intend to take action against noise-induced hearing loss in their own clinics or communities. 15 minutes will be reserved for a combination of discussion and Q&A. Attendees will be invited to share their own brief (1-2 minute) clinical cases involving acoustic trauma. If no attendees wish to share clinical cases, I will present 5-10 minutes of prepared clinical cases, and then take 5-10 minutes of questions.

Brief Summary of Clinical Takeaways: The clinical takeaway from this session is to examine recent examples of acoustic weapons deployed against civilians and prisoners during the current period of political unrest, and prepare audiologists with strategies to protect the public from noise-induced injury while exercising their right to protest.

Assumptions: The instructional level of this learning module is intermediate; attendees should possess fundamental knowledge of hearing conservation, sound pressure level, and audiometric presentation of a noise-induced auditory injury.