Abstract
Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate cochlear functions and auditory disability in industrial workers exposed to occupational noise (IWEON). Method A total of 30 normal hearing male workers (mean age: 34.2 ± 6.7; range: 24–50) who were actively working in the metal industry for at least 5 years and 30 healthy male subjects (mean age: 31.9 ± 8.3; range: 23–49) without occupational noise exposure were included in the study. Distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and Turkish version of Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap (T-AIADH) was applied to all subjects. Results DPOAEs at 3 and 4 kHz of the IWEON group was significantly lower than the control group (p < .05). IWEON group also was worse than the control group in terms of speech and music intelligibility in the T-AIADH (p < .05). Conclusions Minimal damage of the outer hair cells may cause poor speech and music intelligibility. T-AIADH and DPOAE may be used as a screening test in routine practice for early diagnosis of minimal cochlear damage.
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