Retrospective Evaluation of 3-Year Hearing Threshold Changes in Workers Working In Constant Noise Level Environments

Abstract

Introduction and Objective: Sensorineural hearing loss may occur in workers working in noisy
environments depending on the duration and intensity of noise exposure, and it is important to perform
routine auditory controls of these workers and to determine protection methods according to the results.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the hearing thresholds of individuals working in constant noise
environments for the last 3 years by performing frequency-specific examinations.
Materials and Methods: In this study, the hearing threshold change in the last 2020, 2021, 2022 years
of male individuals aged 20-50 years who were exposed to 8 hours of noise 6 days a week in their
working environment was examined. Hearing thresholds were measured by pure tone hearing test,
changes in hearing threshold levels in the range of 250-8000 Hz were examined and statistically
analyzed.
Results: As a result of the analysis, it was found that the frequency-based hearing thresholds obtained
in 2020 increased significantly in 2021 and 2022 in workers working in noisy environments, and it was
determined that the effect was more intense at high frequencies compared to low frequencies (p<0.05).
The pure tone averages obtained in 2020 increased in 2021 and 2022 (p<0.05). It was found that the left
ear was more intensely affected by noise than the right ear (p<0.05).
Conclusion(s): It was observed that as the duration of exposure (years) increases, the risk of hearing
loss may increase due to hearing threshold elevation in workers working in noisy environments.
Keywords: Noise, Noise induced hearing loss, hearing loss