Abstract
A cross sectional survey was conducted among textile workers of six textile factories of different industrial areas of Karachi to determine the frequency of hearing loss. A total of 264 workers were assessed for frequency of hearing loss with audiometric and otoscopic examination conducted by audiologist.About 79% workers had hearing impairment on audiometric assessment having hearing loss ≥25 dB. Of these, 19% of the workers had conductive deafness while 71% had mixed hearing loss. Otoscopic examination revealed that 38% had wax, 41.8 % had ear discharge and 1.6 % had perforation. The multiple logistic regression model shows sound level more than 25 dB aOR: 1.15; 95%CI: 1.10, 1.30 and ear discharge aOR: 2.23; 95%CI: 1.27, 3.92, was found as a strong risk factor of hearing loss (p<0.05). Hearing impairment affects a large proportion of the workers in Pakistan. There is a need for screening of workers exposed to occupational noise. Efforts should be made by the health care system to prevent the problem from an early stage and require effective management of ear-related diseases.
Highlights
Noise exposure causes many auditory and non-auditory health effects
Karachi is the center of the textile industry in Pakistan, where an estimated 4500 industrial units operate in the formal sector [16,17]
In Pakistan, only two studies have focused on NIHL in textile workers of Karachi with limited screening and diagnostic methodology [3,15]
Summary
Noise exposure causes many auditory and non-auditory health effects. Exposure to excessive noise is the major avoidable cause of permanent hearing impairment worldwide [1,2].Workers of textile industries are exposed to high level of noise. Noise exposure causes many auditory and non-auditory health effects. Exposure to excessive noise is the major avoidable cause of permanent hearing impairment worldwide [1,2]. Workers of textile industries are exposed to high level of noise. The functions and processes in textile industry can be broadly classified into four categories: spinning, weaving, wet processing and fabrication [1,2,3,4]. Noise is produced in all the processes but the highest noise is reported in the weaving section of the textile factory where the weaving of the fabric from the thread takes place[3,4]. The non-auditory effects due to noise include annoyance, inability to communicate, headaches, lack of concentration, hypertension, disturbance of psychosocial well-being, and psychiatric disorders reported by various studies [1,3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
