The Impact of Noise Expose on the Hearing Threshold Extended High Frequency.
- Author:
Nam Jeong KIM
1
;
Joong Keun KWON
;
Ji Ho LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Occupational and Envirinmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea. chungang@dreamwiz.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Noise;
Hearing loss;
Conventional frequency;
Extended high frequency
- MeSH:
Aging;
Alcohol Drinking;
Audiometry;
Ear;
Ear Diseases;
Hearing;
Hearing Loss;
Hobbies;
Humans;
Mass Screening;
Military Personnel;
Noise;
Smoke;
Smoking;
Tinnitus
- From:Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
2008;20(2):81-92
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: To determine how extended high frequency is affected by noise exposure and other factors that maybe have adverse effects. METHODS: Pure tone audiometry for usual frequencies (250-8000 Hz) and extended high frequencies (1000-16000 Hz) was conducted for 331 workers at a manufacturing company from 2004 to 2005. History of noise exposure, military service, tinnitus, alcohol drinking, smoking, ear diseases, and noisy hobbies were taken by interview. T-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression was conducted according to the frequency to evaluate the factors that could affect extended high frequency hearing. RESULTS: The noise-exposed group had significantly poorer hearing than the noise-unexposed in the frequency range 2000-16000 Hz. The hearing deteriorated with increasing age through all the frequencies. High frequency hearing of 14000 Hz was significantly worse in the noise-exposed group in their 30s. Noise exposure during military service had a bad effect on hearing, especially for the noise-unexposed group. Tinnitus was associated with poorer hearing in both noise-exposed and noise-unexposed groups. Workers with noisy hobbies exhibited better hearing in the noise-unexposed group, contrary to our expectation. Extended high-frequency hearing was affected by aging, ear protection, and noisy hobbies. In extended high frequency, 14000 Hz was especially related with noise exposure history. CONCLUSIONS: Extended high frequency, especially 14000 Hz, could be used as an indicator of noiseinduced hearing loss and should be considered as a screening test for workers in noisy environments.
