Abstract

GOMEZ MUR, Pilar; PEREZ BERMUDEZ, Brígido  and  MENESES MONROY, Alfonso. Hearing loss related with noise exposure in construction workers. Med. segur. trab. [online]. 2008, vol.54, n.213, pp.33-40. ISSN 1989-7790.

Introduction: Despite the noise produced in constructions works, the utilization of hearing protection devices is not common in this sector. Aim: To study the noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) present on the audiometries of the construction workers. Methodology: A descriptive study is made on the pure tone audiometries done to 223 construction workers, comparing them with those coming from 262 administrative ones. For audiometries classification purposes, the method developed by Klockhoff (K) and modified by Clinica del Lavoro in Milan, is used. Presence of a notch in 3.000, 4.000 or 6.000 Hz frequencies is also analyzed. Results: A significantly higher NIHL bilateral prevalence has been found in the constructions group (K: OR= 3,1. IC95%:1,801-5,435. Bilateral notch: OR=3,8. IC95%:2.244-6.606).) Although the 6.000 Hz notch is the most frequent, the difference between both groups is only significant for the 4.000 Hz one. Discusion: Between 20.7% and 24.3% of construction workers present bilateral NIHL (8.4% and 8.8% in administrative ones). It is necessary to reinforce the utilization of preventive measures, specially hearing protection devices. It is recommended to go more deeply into different notches etiology in future studies.

Keywords : Noise exposure; construction works; noise induced hearing loss; audiometric notch; preventive measures.

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