Potential Risk Of Hearing Loss Research Articles

Risk of sound-induced hearing loss from exposure to video gaming or esports: a systematic scoping review

BackgroundThere is little information on whether video gaming might be a modifiable risk factor for hearing loss and/or tinnitus, despite the plausibility of these relationships given that video games are...

Risk assessment of noise-induced hearing loss among workers in railway transportation equipment manufacturing enterprises

To analyze the noise exposure and hearing loss of workers in railway transportation equipment manufacturing enterprises, and to assess the risk of hearing loss caused by noise. From 2018 to 2020, an investigation was carried out on 3 railway transportation equipment manufacturing enterprises in Hubei Province and Hunan Province. A total of 840 noise-exposed workers were selected, the individual noise exposure level(L_(Aeq·8 h)) and hearing loss level were measured, the cumulative noise exposure(CNE) was calculated, and the relationship between hearing loss and technological process, working time and CNE were analyzed. ISO1999:2013 was used to calculate the change of hearing threshold and the risk of noise-induced hearing loss after 40 years old. The median age of workers was 32 years old, and the median working age for noise exposure was 10 years. The distribution of positions is mainly welding, machining, assembly and painting.79.5%(120/151) of the individual noise exposure doses exceeded 85 dB(A), and the average L_(Aeq.8 h) was 89.9(A). There were significant differences in the proportion of hearing loss among workers in different process units(χ~2= 29.597, P<0.001), and the proportion of hearing loss in the preparation and steel structure units was higher. The proportion of hearing loss showed an upward trend with the increase of working years(χ~2=164.462, P<0.001), and the high-frequency combined speech-frequency hearing loss(26.7%) increased significantly after working for more than 20 years. With the increase of CNE, the proportion of high-frequency hearing loss and the proportion of high-frequency combined speech-frequency hearing loss increased accordingly(χ~2=192.544, P<0.001). The proportion of high frequency combined speech frequency hearing loss increased significantly in the group with CNE greater than 105 dB(A)·years. It is predicted that the risk of hearing loss caused by noise in assemblers appears earliest and the risk is the greatest. The risk of high noise-induced frequency hearing loss of assemblers was 3.6%-8.6% at the age of 40, 20.2% at the age of 50, 22.0% at the age of 60. The risk of high-frequency combined speech-frequency hearing loss of assemblers was 1.2%-6.2% at the age of 50 and 8.6% at the age of 60. The noise hazard is serious and widely distributed in railway transportation equipment manufacturing enterprises, and the proportion of hearing loss increases with the increase of working time and CNE. Although ISO1999:2013 predicts that there may be an underestimation of noise-induced hearing loss in workers, it can be used as an early warning of hearing loss to identify the potential risk of hearing loss in the population.

Comparative analysis of the potential and actual risk of noise-induced hearing loss in employees of “noise” industries

Introduction. The high incidence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) makes it possible to attribute the problem of prevention and prediction of the risk of NIHL to the number of socially significant ones. The aim of the study is to conduct a comparative assessment of the potential risk of hearing loss caused by noise according to GOST R ISO 1999-2017, and the actual risk of NIHL in workers of “noise” industries according to epidemiological research. Materials and methods. The calculation of the potential risk of hearing loss according to GOST R ISO 1999-2017 included assessing age, noise and total hearing loss at noise exposure with 85, 90, 95 and 100 dBA. The actual risk of NIHL was evaluated on survey data of 600 miners and 600 workers of processing plants. Results. The calculation of the probable risk according to GOST R ISO 1999-2017 and the assessment of the actual risk according to epidemiological studies showed that the risk of NIHL depends on both noise exposure and age. As the levels of noise affecting an employee increase, the risk of an NIHL becomes more determined by the effect of noise. At noise levels 85, 90 and 95 dBA, the probable risk calculated under GOST R ISO 1999-2017 coincides with the actual risk established according to epidemiological studies. At the same time, for miners exposed to high-intensity noise 100 dBА, the real risk was not as high as could be assumed from the calculated data. Conclusion. The results obtained allow stating that the GOST ISO 1999-2017 standard with a high degree of potential risk allows predicting the group risk of hearing loss due to noise exposure, to quantify the degree of risk and can be used for the formation of risk groups for NIHL and the development of programs for the preservation of hearing.

Analysis of potential risk of hearing loss among students using personal audio devices

Background: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is on the rise, affecting nearly 1.1 billion young people as per the World Health Organization. It is mainly due to exposure to noise in recreational settings for prolonged duration and at high intensity resulting in unsafe listening practices. Aim and Objective: This study aims to analyze the potential risk of audio device usage and hearing loss among the students. Materials and Methods: Hearing loss among students using personal music player with headphones/earphones was assessed using a self-designed audiometry mobile application and followed by a questionnaire to those found to have hearing loss asking for their preferences of personal audio devices, usage in terms of years, duration per day, volume, content, and awareness of NIHL. Results: Among the 3000 students, 3.2% (96) of students were identified with hearing loss and 72% of the total subjects were unaware of NIHL. About 81% (78) were headphones users as compared to 19% (18) earphones users. About 50% of the subjects with hearing loss had reported usage of a personal audio device for more than 6 h per day followed by 30% who used it for 4–6 h, 16% who used it for 2–4 h followed by 4% who used it for 1–2 h per day. About 90% of students used volume settings more than 60% and 10% preferred 60–40% volume settings. About 65% of the subjects were using audio devices for more than 6 years and 16% for

The Potential Risk of Hearing Loss on Noise-Exposed Housewives : An Observational Study at Sukosari Madiun Railway Residentia

Introduction: Hearing loss events often occur in communities who exposed to high-intensity noise and for long periods. Residents who lived around the railway tracks had a high risk of experiencing hearing loss. This study aims to analyze the potential risk of hearing loss in housewives who for 1x24 hours was always exposed to train noise. Method: This research was an observational analytic study with a cross-sectional design. The sample of this study was 42 housewives who were divided into 2 groups: 21 people exposed to noise and 21 people not exposed to noise. Respondents were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Research data obtained through interviews and observations. Measurement of noise intensity using a whisper test. Result and Discussion: Measurement of day and night noise (L = 65,9 dBA) has exceeded the noise quality standard set for residential areas which were 55 dBA. The results showed that noise (p = 0,030; OR = 5,846) had a strong correlation with hearing loss. While age (p = 0,416), length of stay (p = 1,000), the presence of a barrier (p = 0,465) did not have a significant correlation with hearing loss. Conclusion: Housewives who were exposed to noise have the potential risk of hearing loss. Therefore, efforts must be made to adjust the distance of the settlement and the installation of sound dampers to reduce the risk of hearing loss.

Different medications for the treatment of Ménière's disease by intratympanic injection: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

It is generally accepted that intratympanic injection provides an effective approach to manage severe vertigo in Ménière's disease. Although there are several medications available, that which is the most effective is still subject to debate. To assess the effectiveness and safety of the different medications used in the treatment of Ménière's disease by intratympanic injection using a network meta-analysis. PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and CENTRAL were searched. Only randomised controlled trials that compared the effectiveness of medications used for intratympanic injection to treat Ménière's disease with each other or a placebo were included. The primary outcome assessed was the effectiveness of medication in the management of vertigo symptoms. The effectiveness was expressed in terms of risk ratio (RR) with a 95% credible interval (CrI) for individual studies analysed. Network meta-analyses were performed by Stata version 15.0 using the network package. Nine studies involving 314 patients treated with five different medications were included in the present analysis. A number of injections given varied from 1 to 10 and the follow-up time from 3 to 28months. When compared to each other or to a placebo, Gentamicin was found to be the most efficacious medication, followed by Methylprednisolone, Latanoprost, Dexamethasone and Ganciclovir in order of effectiveness. However, no significant difference in efficacy was found between Gentamicin and Methylprednisolone when outcomes from studies with a follow-up time equal to or more than 24months were analysed. It was not possible to conduct subgroup and sensitivity analysis because of the limited number of studies that were included. All medications are more effective than a placebo in the treatment of Ménière's disease by intratympanic injection. According to the SUCRA, Gentamicin ranked the most effective, with Gentamicin and Methylprednisolone equally effective in the long-term effect. When the potential risk of hearing loss induced by Gentamicin is taken into consideration, Methylprednisolone may be the best choice for the treatment of Ménière's disease by intratympanic injection.

Effect of exposure to a mixture of organic solvents on hearing thresholds in petrochemical industry workers.

Hearing loss is one of the most common occupational diseases. In most workplaces, workers are exposed to noise and solvents simultaneously, so the potential risk of hearing loss due to solvents may be attributed to noise. In this study we aimed to assess the effect of exposure to mixed aromatic solvents on hearing in the absence of exposure to hazardous noise. In a cross-sectional study, 99 workers from the petrochemical industry with exposure to a mixture of organic solvents whose noise exposure was lower than 85 dBA were compared with 100 un-exposed controls. After measuring sound pressure level and mean concentration of each solvent in the workplace, pure-tone-audiometry was performed and the two groups were compared in terms of high-frequency and low-frequency hearing loss. T-tests and Chi-square tests were used to compare the two groups. The mean hearing threshold at all frequencies among petrochemical workers was normal (below 25 dB). We did not observe any significant association between solvent exposure and high-frequency or low-frequency hearing loss. This study showed that temporary exposure (less than 4 years) to a mixture of organic solvents, without exposure to noise, does not affect workers' hearing threshold in audiometry tests.

The study of auditory effects after concomitant radiotherapy and chemotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer

Aims and Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and patterns of hearing loss after concomitant radiochemotherapy in patients enrolled in a larynx preservation protocol. Materials and Methods: The study comprised of audiological evaluation of 30 patients prior to and at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment using pure tone audiometry and impedance audiometry. Results: At the end of 6 months, 43.33% suffered sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), 8.33% conductive hearing loss, 16.67% mixed hearing loss, and 6.67% showed improvement in hearing. Discussion: The possible mechanism for hearing loss are discussed and compared with the result of such studies in literature. Conclusion: There exist a small but definite potential risk of hearing loss after concomitant radiotherapy and chemotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer.

Preferred listening levels of personal listening devices in young teenagers: Self reports and physical measurements

Objective: To assess the potential risk of hearing loss to young listeners, due to the use of personal listening devices (PLDs). Design: The study included two parts: (1) A self-report questionnaire on music listening habits, and (2) Physical measurements of preferred listening levels, in quiet and in everyday background noise. Study sample: Young teenagers aged 13 to 17 years. Part 1 included 289 participants with mean age of 14 years. Part 2 included 11 and 74 participants (2A and 2B) with a mean age of 15 years. Eleven listened to PLDs in quiet conditions (2A) and 74 in everyday background noise (2B). Results: Questionnaire main findings indicated that most of the participants reported high or very high volume settings and demonstrated low awareness towards loud music listening consequences. Physical measurements corrected for diffuse field indicated mean preferred listening levels of: 82 (SD = 9) dBA in quiet, and 89 (SD = 9) dBA in the presence of background noise. The potential risk to hearing of PLDs users was calculated using the 8 hour equivalent level. Conclusion: More than 25% of the participants in the noisy condition were found to be at risk according to occupational damage risk criteria NIOSH, 1998.

Music exposure and hearing disorders: An overview

It has been generally accepted that excessive exposure to loud music causes various hearing symptoms (e.g. tinnitus) and consequently leads to a risk of permanent hearing damage, known as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Such potential risk of NIHL due to loud music exposure has been widely investigated in musicians and people working in music venues. With advancements in sound technology and rapid developments in the music industry, increasing numbers of people, particularly adolescents and young adults, are exposing themselves to music on a voluntary basis at potentially harmful levels, and over a substantial period of time, which can also cause NIHL. However, because of insufficient audiometric evidence of hearing loss caused purely by music exposure, there is still disagreement and speculation about the risk of hearing loss from music exposure alone. Many studies have suggested using advanced audiological measurements as more sensitive and efficient tools to monitor hearing status as early indicators of cochlear dysfunction. The purpose of this review is to provide further insight into the potential risk of hearing loss caused by exposure to loud music, and thus contribute to further raising awareness of music induced hearing loss.SumarioSe ha aceptado en general que la exposición excesiva a música fuerte ocasiona varios síntomas auditivos (e.g. acúfeno) y consecuentemente trae el riesgo de daño auditivo permanente, conocido como hipoacusia inducida por ruido (NIHL). El riesgo potencial de NIHL debido a la exposición a música fuerte ha sido ampliamente investigado en músicos y en personas que trabajan en locales musicales. Con los avances en la tecnología del sonido y el rápido desarrollo de la industria musical, un mayor número de personas, en particular los adolescentes y los adultos jóvenes, se han expuesto voluntariamente a niveles potencialmente dañinos por tiempo considerable que pueden causar NIHL. Sin embargo, debido a que la evidencia audiométrica de que la exposición a música es la única causante de la pérdida auditiva es insuficiente, aun hay desacuerdo y especulación sobre el riesgo que esto representa. Varios estudios han sugerido monitorear el estado auditivo mediante herramientas audiológicas más sensitivas y eficientes, como indicadores tempranos de disfunción coclear. El objetivo de esta revisión es proveer un mayor conocimiento del riego potencial de hipoacusia debida a la exposición a música fuerte y por tanto contribuir a levantar una mayor conciencia sobre ello.

Predicting exposure conditions that facilitate the potentiation of noise-induced hearing loss by carbon monoxide.

Hearing loss is the most common occupational disease in the United States, with noise serving as the presumed causative agent in most instances. This investigation characterizes the exposure conditions that facilitate the potentiation of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) by carbon monoxide (CO). Auditory function was compared in rats exposed 4 weeks earlier to noise alone, CO alone, combined exposure, and air in the exposure chamber. This interval between exposure and auditory threshold assessment was selected to permit recovery of temporary threshold shifts. The compound action potential (CAP) threshold evoked by pure tone stimuli was used as a measure of auditory sensitivity. The no adverse effect level (NOAEL) with respect to potentiation of NIHL was found to be 300 ppm CO. Potentiation of NIHL by CO increases linearly as CO concentration increases between 500 -1500 ppm. Benchmark dose software (version 1. 1B) published by the U.S. EPA National Center for Environmental Assessment was employed to determine a benchmark concentration of CO that produced either a 5-dB potentiation of NIHL or an increase in auditory threshold equivalent to 10% of the effect of noise alone. The lower bound for these benchmark concentrations were 320 and 194 ppm CO, respectively. Unlike CO dose, the relationship between noise severity and potentiation of NIHL by CO shows a nonlinear relationship. The greatest potentiation was observed at moderate noise exposures (100 dB, 2-h, octave band-limited noise, or OBN) that produce limited permanent threshold shifts. Repeated exposures to 95-dB noise for 2-h periods in combination with 1200 ppm CO also yielded potentiation of NIHL, though such effects were not observed following a single combined exposure. These results underscore the potential risk of hearing loss from combined exposure to noise and CO, and the risks associated with repeated exposure.