No abstract available.
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced*

No abstract available.
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced*

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

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relation between different types of exposure to noise and a classic sign of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL); the audiometric notch. METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological survey was carried out in electronics sound inspectors exposed to continuous and impulsive type noises. The noise levels in the working environments, and the audiometric hearing threshold levels were measured. RESULTS: Electronics sound inspectors were exposed to impulsive noise ranging from 74.1 to 88.9 dBA. The hearing loss induced by impulsive noise was greater and was characterized by maximum loss at 6 kHz audiometric frequency, as opposed to the notch at 4 kHz that is typical of continuous noise. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the probable effect of impulsive noise on hearing should be considered even when the exposure is within the 85 dB equivalent A-weighted level. To diagnose NIHL it is important to elicit a detailed and accurate history of exposure to noise. Although the notch at 4 kHz is a well established clinical sign and may be valuable in confirming the diagnosis, the 6 kHz notch is variable and of limited importance.
Diagnosis ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Hearing* ; Noise*

Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Noise ; Recreation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although mass transit systems are convenient and efficient for urban people, little attention has been paid to the potential hearing hazard from their noise. The purpose of the current study was to measure and analyze levels of subway interior noise at peak commuter times and to provide information about commuters' daily dose of noise exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To measure the subway interior noise, nine subway lines inside Seoul (i.e., lines 1-9) and six lines surrounding the capital city area (i.e., Central, Bundang, Sinbundang, Incheon, Gyeongui, and Gyeongchun) were chosen. The noise was measured and recorded by a sound level meter for two-hour periods in the morning and evening. RESULTS: 1) In the LZeq analysis, the average noise level of all 15 lines was 72.78 dB; the maximum and minimum noise levels were 78.34 and 62.46 dB, respectively. The average noise level of the nine lines inside Seoul was 73.45 dB, which was 1.68-dB louder than that of the six lines surrounding the capital city area. 2) Based on the LZeq analysis of 33 measured frequencies, 12.5 Hz was the highest frequency and 20,000 Hz was the lowest. 3) There was no remarkable difference in the level of subway interior noise between morning and evening peak commuter times. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the level of subway interior noise was not loud enough for commuters to incur noise-induced hearing loss. Regardless, environmental noise control efforts in the subway system might be needed for commuters who take a subway every day.
Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Incheon ; Noise* ; Railroads* ; Seoul

Background: Noise pollution has seriously negative effects on worker\u2019s health, especially their hearing ability. Occupational hearing loss is one of 21 insured occupational diseases. Occupational hearing loss is common in workers in transpostation, construction, energy heavy and light industry areas. Objectives: 1. To determine the degree of noise pollution in Thua Thien Hue Unity Auto Mechanical Joint Stock Company. 2. To evaluate occupational failing hearing and occupational hearing loss among workers in the company. 3. To promote preventive measures which imnimize occupational failing hearing and occupational hearing loss. Subjects and method:A cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out in 254 employees in Thua Thien Hue Unity Auto Mechanical \r\n', u'Joint Stock Company. Results and Conclusion: 72.7% the employees of Thua Thien Hue Unity Auto Mechanical \r\n', u'Joint Stock Company have exposed to environmental noise at the level higher than the permitted one. The rate of occupational failing hearing among these people is rather high (33.1%), and occupational hearing loss rate is 11.8%. There is a increased rate of occupational hearing loss according to the employee\u2019s age and seniority. Proposed preventive measures should be immediately conducted (P < 0.05).\r\n', u'
Hearing Loss ; Noise-Induced/ epidemiology ; etiology ; pathology ;

Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; physiopathology ; Humans

INTRODUCTION: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) attributed to occupational noise exposure is one of the most common causes of permanent hearing impairment. In the Philippines, road traffic remains the biggest source of noise. The authors aimed to determine the prevalence of NIHL among traffic enforcers in Quezon City and quantify their occupational noise exposure levels. METHODS: Traffic enforcers were recruited via convenience sampling and screened using a questionnaire and otoscopic examination. Participants underwent pure tone audiometry and those found to have hearing loss were classified as “indicative” or “suspected” NIHL. Audiometric measurements of noise levels in areas where the traffic enforcers were assigned were taken using a calibrated smartphone application. RESULTS: “Indicative of NIHL” was highest in the 41 to 50-year age group and “suspected NIHL” was highest in the 31 to 40-year age group. “Indicative of NIHL” was highest among those working for 1 to 5 and 11 to 15 years in the right ear (25%) and 11 to 15 years in the left ear (30%). “Suspected NIHL” was highest among those working for 6 to 10 years. The average noise levels from the different areas measured at different times ranged from 79.0 to 82.5 dB. CONCLUSION “Indicative of NIHL” is more prevalent in the older age group while “suspected NIHL” is more prevalent in the middle age group. The prevalence of “indicative of NIHL” is highest among those in service for 1 to 5 and 11 to 15 years while “suspected NIHL” is highest among those in the service for 6 to 10 years. The average noise level measurements were within the safe values suggested by WHO.
Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Noise, Occupational

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The prognosis and prognostic factors for acute acoustic trauma are difficult to predict. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic factors of acute acoustic trauma. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The cases selected for this report are 27 patients with acute acoustic trauma and 139 patients with sudden deafness are selected for control group. The following factors were examined for prognostic factors: age, vestibular symptom, degree of initial hearing loss, number of days before the start of treatment. RESULTS: Most strongly related factor for prognosis is number of days before the start of treatment, but other factors are not significant relation for prognosis. The overall hearing recovery rate of acute acoustic trauma was 29.6% and that of sudden deafness is 56.1%. CONCLUSION: Early treatment of acute acoustic trauma increases hearing recovery rate, and acute acoustic trauma has worse prognosis than sudden deafness.
Acoustics* ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced* ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Humans ; Prognosis