{"title":"An Exploratory Study on Self-Reported Auditory Symptoms and Hearing Loss among Workers in a Small-Scale LPG Plant.","authors":"Arya Chand, Asha Manoharan, L Rejitha Kumari","doi":"10.4103/ijoem.ijoem_44_23","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Occupational noise is considered a factor contributing to acquired hearing loss (HL) in adults. Frequent noise exposure can cause cochlear damage, leading to sensorineural HL, tinnitus, vertigo, and other non auditory effects as well. Although it is well known that liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) plants in India have become a workplace source for occupational noise pollution exposure, there are not many studies that probe into the auditory effects of workplace noise in LPG plants.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>The study aims to document HL and self reported otological symptoms in employees with occupational noise exposure at a typical LPG plant in a suburban location in India. 53 employees who reported workplace noise exposure were assessed for HL and self reported auditory symptoms.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Self reported symptoms were collected using a custom made case history questionnaire, and auditory sensitivity was measured using air conduction audiometers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 53 participants, 27 tested positive for HL. A mild degree of HL was frequently observed, followed by a moderate and severe degree of HL. In the self reported otological complaints reported by 31 participants, HL and aural fullness were the most commonly reported auditory symptoms. Additionally, the use of ear protection devices and hearing conservation practices among the participants were poor.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Hearing loss and self-reported auditory symptoms were present in the study group indicating the effect of occupational noise in the auditory system.</p>","PeriodicalId":43585,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11302531/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ijoem.ijoem_44_23","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/6/28 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Occupational noise is considered a factor contributing to acquired hearing loss (HL) in adults. Frequent noise exposure can cause cochlear damage, leading to sensorineural HL, tinnitus, vertigo, and other non auditory effects as well. Although it is well known that liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) plants in India have become a workplace source for occupational noise pollution exposure, there are not many studies that probe into the auditory effects of workplace noise in LPG plants.
Aim: The study aims to document HL and self reported otological symptoms in employees with occupational noise exposure at a typical LPG plant in a suburban location in India. 53 employees who reported workplace noise exposure were assessed for HL and self reported auditory symptoms.
Method: Self reported symptoms were collected using a custom made case history questionnaire, and auditory sensitivity was measured using air conduction audiometers.
Results: Among the 53 participants, 27 tested positive for HL. A mild degree of HL was frequently observed, followed by a moderate and severe degree of HL. In the self reported otological complaints reported by 31 participants, HL and aural fullness were the most commonly reported auditory symptoms. Additionally, the use of ear protection devices and hearing conservation practices among the participants were poor.
Conclusion: Hearing loss and self-reported auditory symptoms were present in the study group indicating the effect of occupational noise in the auditory system.
期刊介绍:
The website of Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine aims to make the printed version of the journal available to the scientific community on the web. The site is purely for educational purpose of the medical community. The site does not cater to the needs of individual patients and is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing physician.