Evaluation of noise exposure and risk of hearing impairment in judicial transcribers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate noise exposure and risk of hearing impairment in judicial transcribers. Noise measurements and questionnaire inquiry were carried out in a group of 15 employees, aged 38.0 ± 0.8 years. Sound pressure levels emitted by headphones were measured using the MIRE technique according to ISO 11904-1:2008. The risk of noise-induced hearing loss was estimated according to the guidelines of ISO 1999:2013.The diffuse-field-related A-weighted equivalent-continuous sound pressure levels measured under headphones reached values from 62 to 80.7 dB. The study subjects worked as transcribers on average for 4–7 h a day. Consequently, the individual daily noise exposure levels in the examined group ranged from 61.2 to 79.9 dB. Such exposures for 10 years of occupational work pose a risk of hearing impairment (the mean hearing threshold at frequencies of 2, 3, and 4 kHz > 20 dB) reaching 3.5%. Almost three fourth of the employees reported their hearing deterioration (73.3%), whereas nearly a half of them experienced temporary hearing symptoms due to usage of headphones (43.3%).It is recommended that the transcribers should be covered by the hearing protection programme.