CLINICAL AND AUDIOLOGICAL VALUES IN THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF HEARING IMPAIRMENTS AND RISK GROUPS AMONG SHIP REPAIR WORKERS

Abstract

Introduction: The hazardous effect of industrial noise exposure on ship repair workers has been highlighted in a number of studies. However, no data are currently available for studying the effect of noise exposure on the auditory system and general health of ship repair workers. The aim: The study is focused on the early diagnosis of hearing impairments and identifying risk groups among the workers. Materials and methods: It was examined two groups of workers of approximately the same age and length of employment. The Group 1 included workers from the Azov Shiprepair Yard (Mariupol city, Ukraine) who were exposed to workplace noise impact of less than 80 dBA threshold level, the workplace noise level in the Group 2 was above 80 dBA. Audiometric testing was conducted in a sound-treated room using the MA 31 clinical audiometer (Germany). Results: Our findings indicate that all the noise-exposed groups of ship repair workers should be conducted audiometric testing. The hearing levels at the audiometric test frequencies of 4, 6 and 8 kHz, as well as differential thresholds at the audiometric test frequencies of 4 kHz by the Luscher-Zwislocki method should be taken into account. Such complaints as increased annoyance, sleep disorder, tinnitus aurium, hypertension should be considered as most hazardous. Conclusions: We recommend that the ship repair workers undergo routine medical check-ups and systematic prophylactic observation. All these preventive measures will contribute to the early detection of hearing impairments, thereby timely preventing the development and progression of occupational sensorineural hearing loss.