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*

In Korea there is no specific method of age adjustment in noise induced hearing loss(NIHL). we attempted the age adjustment to understand the effects of age on the diagnosis of NIHL. We used the International Standard Organization 1999 as an age adjustment method. We used the 1,617 otologically normal person's hearing data from a health examination center, and 206 workers diagnosed as NIHL. we concluded as follows; 1. The ISO 7029 function used for age specific hearing loss is not suited to Korean people. 2. The mean of age specific hearing loss is 11.0 6.2dB, and the older of age, the more decrease on hearing loss, especially in 4000Hz. 3. The difference of NIHL between before age adjustment and after age adjustment in the 3rd decade is 5.4dB, in the 4th decade is 6.7dB, in the 5th decade is 8.5dB, in the 6th decade is 10.4dB, and in the 7th decade is 12.9dB. The older, the more is the difference. 4. After age adjustment, the number of workers diagnosed as NIHL decreases to 60% of unadjusted.
Diagnosis* ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing* ; Korea ; Noise*

Hearing Loss ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current situation of early diagnosis and intervention in 0-9 months old infants with hearing loss and analysis factors that will affect early diagnosis and intervention. METHOD: One hundred and eighty-six infants referred to the West China hospital from February 2014 to September 2014 were included. All 186 children were referred due to the fact that either they failed infant hearing screening or outer ear malformation. Early diagnosis and/or intervention were performed on those 186 children and their records of early diagnosis and intervention were analyzed. RESULT: Among the 186 infants, 167 (89.8%) were diagnosed with an average age at (4.0 ± 1.4) months. Among the 167 infants with final diagnosis, there were 31 (18.6%) infants diagnosed as conductive hearing loss (CHL), and 99 cases (59.3%) diagnosed as sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), among whom, there were 75 (44.9%) bilateral SNHL and 24 (14.4%) unilateral SNHL. There were 2 cases (1.20%) with SNHL on one side and atresia on the other side. 5 (2.99%) of all conductive hearing loss cases with unilateral atresia and 2 cases with auditory neuropathy (AN) were found. 33 infants (19.8%) were found to have normal hearing. 30.7% (23/75) infants diagnosed as bilateral SNHL and 8.3% (2/24) infants diagnosed as unilateral SNHL were fitted with hearing aids. The fitting rate in infants with bilateral SNHL with mild, moderate, severe to profound degrees were 0 (0/23), 24.0% (6/25), 66.7% (6/9), 61.1% (11/18) respectively. The average intervention age was (5.0 ± 2.1) months. CONCLUSION Although the early diagnosis and intervention situation in this study are very close to international standard, there are still infants without final diagnosis and infants with hearing loss without hearing aid fitting. Further studies and efforts to promote early diagnosis and intervention in infants with hearing loss are needed.
China ; Deafness ; Early Diagnosis ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Loss, Bilateral ; Hearing Loss, Central ; Hearing Loss, Conductive ; diagnosis ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; diagnosis ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sudden deafness in children is rare and comprises less than 10% of all sudden deafness. Viral infection is more common and early treatment is less common in children than in adults. Prognosis of sudden deafness is poorer in children than in adults. This study was attempted to evaluate clinical characteristics and prognosis of sudden deafness in children and to compare with sudden deafness in adults. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of 40 patients (41 ears) who had been admitted to the department of otolaryngology, Pusan National University Hospital from January 1990 to December 2000. RESULTS: 1) Hearing recovery was significantly worse in the age group below 10 than in that over 10 (p<0.05). 2) Hearing recovery was less favorable in patients with profound degree of hearing loss than in those with the other degrees of hearing loss (p<0.05). 3) The patients who had been treated within 7 days after the on-set of symptoms were smaller in children than in adults (p<0.05). 4) Mumps was more common in childhood, the hearing recovery was significantly worse in cases with mumps than those without mumps (p<0.05). 5) Of the 41 ears, 8 ears (19.5%) had complete recovery, 5 ears (12.2%) had partial recovery, 9 ears (22.0%) had slight improvement, 19 ears (46.3%) had no improvement. CONCLUSION: Congenital hereditary deafness and viral infections are more common in children. Thus the cause of sudden sensorineural hearing loss can be identified more frequently in children than in adults. Poor hearing recovery in children are considered to be associated with late time of initial treatment and asymptomatic mumps. Early diagnosis and early treatment are more important in children.
Adult ; Busan ; Child* ; Deafness ; Ear ; Early Diagnosis ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Sudden* ; Humans ; Mumps ; Otolaryngology ; Prognosis

Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans

Hearing Loss, Sudden ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans

Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; Humans

Humans ; Hearing Loss, Sudden/diagnosis* ; Tinnitus

Humans ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/diagnosis* ; Deafness ; Mutation