Affiliations: [a]
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, PLA Strategic Support Force Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing, China
| [b]
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Wei Wu, MD., Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, PLA Strategic Support Force Characteristic Medical Center. No. 9, Anxiangbeili, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China. Tel.: +86 10 66356347; Fax: +86 10 66356347; E-mail ent306ww@126.com.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Varied noise environments, such as impulse noise and steady-state noise, may induce distinct patterns of hearing impairment among personnel exposed to prolonged noise. However, comparative studies on these effects remain limited. OBJECTIVE:This study aims to delineate the different characteristics of hearing loss in workers exposed to steady-state noise and impulse noise. METHODS:As of December 2020, 96 workers exposed to steady-state noise and 177 workers exposed to impulse noise were assessed. Hearing loss across various frequencies was measured using pure tone audiometry and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) audiometry. RESULTS:Both groups of workers exposed to steady-state noise and impulse noise exhibited high frequencies hearing loss. The steady-state noise group displayed significantly greater hearing loss at lower frequencies in the early stages, spanning 1– 5 years of work (P < 0.05). Among individuals exposed to impulse noise for extended periods (over 10 years), the observed hearing loss surpassed that of the steady-state noise group, displaying a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:Hearing loss resulting from both steady-state noise and impulse noise predominantly occurs at high frequencies. Early exposure to steady-state noise induces more pronounced hearing loss at speech frequencies compared to impulse noise.
Keywords: Steady-state noise, impulse noise, noise-induced hearing loss, pure tone audiometry, distorted product otoacoustic emissions
