Hearing injuries due to atmospheric pressure changes in air and water survival training instructors

Abstract

Under normal atmospheric conditions, the individual has an optimal state of health, but these conditions alter their physiology and can cause damage to health. Hence, sudden changes in atmospheric pressure generate hearing manifestations and/or injuries because the pressure inside the ear must be equal to that outside. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hearing injuries caused by sudden changes in atmospheric pressure in air and water survival training instructors, during the period 2012-2022. Epidemiological, descriptive cross-sectional research. To collect the information, a documentary review of the clinical records and the work plan was carried out. The population and sample were made up of the 20 instructors of the Department of Physiological Training (DAF). Results: the male sex predominated (85 %), the average age and seniority were 36 ± 4,68 and 12 ± 6,59 years respectively, with a work exposure of 6 hours per week. In addition, 15 cases of hearing loss and 01 case of decompression illness with hearing injury were diagnosed, a prevalence of 0,8 cases per year, which indicates that one instructor annually suffers from hearing injury due to Barotrauma. This is why the main prevention measure is in the organization of work, limiting the number and duration of dives. Therefore, it is recommended to implement a hearing conservation program and comply with the morbidity registry of occupational diseases and accidents of the DAF instructor staff related to changes in atmospheric pressure