Search

Objective: To investigate the effects of previous occupational noise exposure in older adults with hearing loss on (1) audiometric configuration and acoustic reflex (AR) thresholds and (2) self-reported hearing abilities and hearing aid (HA) effectiveness., Design: A prospective observational study., Study Sample: The study included 1176 adults (≥60 years) with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Pure-tone audiometry, AR thresholds, and responses to the abbreviated version of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ12) and the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) questionnaire were obtained, along with information about previous occupational noise exposure., Results: Greater occupational noise exposure was associated with a higher prevalence of steeply sloping audiograms in men and women and a 0.32 (95% CI: -0.57; -0.06) scale points lower mean SSQ12 total score among noise-exposed men. AR thresholds did not show a significant relation to noise-exposure status, but hearing thresholds at a given frequency were related to elevated AR thresholds at the same frequency., Conclusions: A noise exposure history is linked to steeper audiograms in older adults with hearing loss as well as to poorer self-reported hearing abilities in noise-exposed men. More attention to older adults with previous noise exposure is warranted in hearing rehabilitation.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine which machine learning model is most suitable for predicting noise-induced hearing loss and the effect of tinnitus on the models' accuracy., Methods: Two hundred workers employed in a metal industry were selected for this study and tested using pure tone audiometry. Their occupational exposure histories were collected, analysed and used to create a dataset. Eighty per cent of the data collected was used to train six machine learning models and the remaining 20 per cent was used to test the models., Results: Eight workers (40.5 per cent) had bilaterally normal hearing and 119 (59.5 per cent) had hearing loss. Tinnitus was the second most important indicator after age for noise-induced hearing loss. The support vector machine was the best-performing algorithm, with 90 per cent accuracy, 91 per cent F1 score, 95 per cent precision and 88 per cent recall., Conclusion: The use of tinnitus as a risk factor in the support vector machine model may increase the success of occupational health and safety programmes.

Musicians are at risk of hearing loss and tinnitus due to regular exposure to high levels of noise. This level of risk may have been underestimated previously since damage to the auditory system, such as cochlear synaptopathy, may not be easily detectable using standard clinical measures. Most previous research investigating hearing loss in musicians has involved cross-sectional study designs that may capture only a snapshot of hearing health in relation to noise exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cumulative noise exposure on behavioural, electrophysiological, and self-report indices of hearing damage in early-career musicians and non-musicians with normal hearing over a 2-year period. Participants completed an annual test battery consisting of pure tone audiometry, extended high-frequency hearing thresholds, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), speech perception in noise, auditory brainstem responses, and self-report measures of tinnitus, hyperacusis, and hearing in background noise. Participants also completed the Noise Exposure Structured Interview to estimate cumulative noise exposure across the study period. Linear mixed models assessed changes over time. The longitudinal analysis comprised 64 early-career musicians (female n = 34; age range at T0 = 18-26 years) and 30 non-musicians (female n = 20; age range at T0 = 18-27 years). There were few longitudinal changes as a result of musicianship. Small improvements over time in some measures may be attributable to a practice/test-retest effect. Some measures (e.g., DPOAE indices of outer hair cell function) were associated with noise exposure at each time point, but did not show a significant change over time. A small proportion of participants reported a worsening of their tinnitus symptoms, which participants attributed to noise exposure, or not using hearing protection. Future longitudinal studies should attempt to capture the effects of noise exposure over a longer period, taken at several time points, for a precise measure of how hearing changes over time. Hearing conservation programmes for "at risk" individuals should closely monitor DPOAEs to detect early signs of noise-induced hearing loss when audiometric thresholds are clinically normal., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

To explore the correlation between pure tone audiometry at all frequencies and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) of hidden hearing loss (HHL). The workers exposed to noise from a factory in Zhangjiakou (noise exposure group, n  = 73) and normal young and middle-aged people recruited by society (control group, n  = 77) from August 2021 to April 2022 were study subjects, and all of them underwent audiometry in clinic. Compared with the control group, the noise exposure group had significantly higher threshold by extended high-frequency audiometry at all frequencies and higher signal-to-noise ratio threshold (SNR50) (all P  < 0.001), and higher amplitude ratio of SP to AP of the waveform induced by short sound at 96, 90, 80 and 70 dB nHL and lower SNR at 6 kHz and above (all P < 0.05).         The pure tone audiometry was correlated with DPOAE test results at the frequencies of 6, 8, 9 and 10 kHz ( P  < 0.001). The results of speech audiometry in noise were related to the average SNR of DPOAE test at each frequency ( P  = 0.026, r  = -0.265). The ratio of SP to AP in electrocochleogram recorded at the intensity of 96 dB nHL was correlated with the average SNR at 6 kHz and above in DPOAE test ( P  = 0.018, r  = -0.461), and with the average auditory threshold at each frequency in extended high-frequency audiometry ( P  = 0.032, r  = 0.421). DPOAE has certain value in detecting HHL.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of routine white noise exposure in children who undergo sound field audiometry., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a pediatric otolaryngology clinic affiliated with an academic tertiary care hospital. The medical records of children who underwent sound field audiometry were reviewed and data was collected regarding demographics and audiogram results. The group was divided into two cohorts based on routine exposure to white noise. Children exposed to white noise were tested with warble tones, while those not exposed were tested with narrow-band noise., Results: 127 patients underwent sound field audiometry testing, of which 96 (75.6%) were reported by their parents to use white noise for sleep. The mean age at time of testing was 1.6 years (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.5-1.7). 104 (81.9%) children were able to respond to at least four of the sound field thresholds, and there was no significant difference between the children exposed to white noise and those who were not (P = 0.459). Mean pure tone average (PTA) was 26.2 dB (95% CI 25.2-27.2) and mean speech reception threshold (SRT) was 19.2 dB (95% CI 18.2-20.2). The sound field response rate, PTA, and SRT were similar between these two groups., Conclusions: The routine use of white noise therapy was extremely common in this pediatric population. The use of warble tones as the audiometric stimuli for children exposed to white noise resulted in similar testing success compared to the use of narrow-band noise in children not exposed to white noise., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study aims to predict the risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) through a back-propagation neural network (BPNN) model. It provides an early, simple and accurate prediction method for NIHL., Design: Population based, a cross sectional study., Setting: Han, China., Participants: This study selected 3266 Han male workers from three automobile manufacturing industries., Primary Outcome Measures: Information including personal life habits, occupational health test information and occupational exposure history were collected and predictive factors of NIHL were screened from these workers. BPNN and logistic regression models were constructed using these predictors., Results: The input variables of BPNN model were 20, 16 and 21 important factors screened by univariate, stepwise and lasso-logistic regression. When the BPNN model was applied to the test set, it was found to have a sensitivity (TPR) of 83.33%, a specificity (TNR) of 85.92%, an accuracy (ACC) of 85.51%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 52.85%, a negative predictive value of 96.46% and area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) is: 0.926 (95% CI: 0.891 to 0.961), which demonstrated the better overall properties than univariate-logistic regression modelling (AUC: 0.715) (95% CI: 0.652 to 0.777). The BPNN model has better predictive performance against NIHL than the stepwise-logistic and lasso-logistic regression model in terms of TPR, TNR, ACC, PPV and NPV (p<0.05); the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of NIHL is also higher than that of the stepwise and lasso-logistic regression model (p<0.05). It was a relatively important factor in NIHL to find cumulative noise exposure, auditory system symptoms, age, listening to music or watching video with headphones, exposure to high temperature and noise exposure time in the trained BPNN model., Conclusions: The BPNN model was a valuable tool in dealing with the occupational risk prediction problem of NIHL. It can be used to predict the risk of an individual NIHL., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Background: High-frequency hearing loss (HFHL) stands as a prevalent occupational morbidity globally, with numerous associated risk factors, some of which are modifiable. In the context of a comprehensive hearing conservation program, the initial steps involve early screening and identification of workers with these modifiable risk factors, aiming to reduce the prevalence of hearing loss. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of HFHL and determine its predictors among mine workers., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 226 mine workers in ten open-cast mines in Gujarat state, the western part of India, in November 2020. We collected data on socio-demography, addiction, occupation history and comorbidities, along with anthropometric, blood pressure, and blood sugar measurements. Audiometric evaluations using a portable diagnostic audiometer were employed to assess HFHL, defined as a hearing threshold exceeding 25 decibels (dB) at high frequencies (3000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz). A generalized linear model (GLM) with a binomial family was performed to determine the predictors significantly predicting HFHL after adjusting for confounding variables., Results: The prevalence of HFHL was 35% (95% CI: 29-42%) in our study setting. Office workers demonstrated a prevalence of 19%, whereas other job categories displayed a higher prevalence of 42%, resulting in a significant prevalence difference of 23% and a prevalence ratio of 2.2. The GLM analysis revealed that variables, such as noise exposure during work [adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) 2.3 (95% CI: 1.2-4.7, p = 0.018)] and noise exposure duration [aPR 1.1 (95% CI: 1.0-1.1, p = 0.042)], were significant predictors of HFHL., Conclusions: In our study setting, mine workers exhibited a high prevalence of HFHL, with exposure to workplace noise and duration being modifiable predictors. Because HFHL advances slowly and is generally undetected by the individual, we recommend periodic testing using audiometry to identify it among mine workers and, if possible, shifting them from mining activities to office. Furthermore, we advocate for the implementation of a comprehensive hearing conservation program to the extent possible., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

In the present study, an attempt has been made to assess the impact of vehicular noise upon the 3-wheeler tempo drivers and to know whether there is any relationship between hearing loss and cumulative noise exposure. For this purpose, 3-wheeler tempo drivers (Exposed group) and non-commercial light motor vehicle car drivers (Unexposed group) were chosen as study subjects. Three traffic routes were selected to assess the noise level during waiting and running time in the exposed and unexposed groups. Among all three routes, the highest mean noise level (L eq ) was observed on the Chowk to Dubagga route for waiting and en-route noise measurement. It was measured as 84.13 dB(A) and 86.36 dB(A) for waiting and en-route periods of 7.68 ± 3.46 and 31.05 ± 6.6 min, respectively. Cumulative noise exposure was found to be significantly different (p < 0.001) in all age groups of exposed and unexposed drivers. Audiometric tests have been performed over both exposed and unexposed groups. The regression analysis has been done keeping hearing loss among tempo drivers as the dependent variable and age (years) and Energy (Pa 2 Hrs) as the independent variable using three different criteria of hearing loss definitions, i.e., World Health Organization, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Occupational Safety and Health Administration criteria. Among these three criteria, the NIOSH criterion of hearing loss best explained the independent variables. It could explain the total variation in dependent variable by independent variable quite well, i.e., 68.1%. The finding showed a linear relationship between cumulative noise exposures (Pa 2 Hrs) and the exposed group's hearing loss (dB), i.e., hearing loss increases with increasing noise dose. Based on the findings, two model equations were developed to identify the safe and unsafe noise levels with exposure time., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Hearing loss affects approximately 18% of the population worldwide. Hearing difficulties in noisy environments without accompanying audiometric threshold shifts likely affect an even larger percentage of the global population. One of the potential causes of hidden hearing loss is cochlear synaptopathy, the loss of synapses between inner hair cells (IHC) and auditory nerve fibers (ANF). These synapses are the most vulnerable structures in the cochlea to noise exposure or aging. The loss of synapses causes auditory deafferentation, i.e., the loss of auditory afferent information, whose downstream effect is the loss of information that is sent to higher-order auditory processing stages. Understanding the physiological and perceptual effects of this early auditory deafferentation might inform interventions to prevent later, more severe hearing loss. In the past decade, a large body of work has been devoted to better understand hidden hearing loss, including the causes of hidden hearing loss, their corresponding impact on the auditory pathway, and the use of auditory physiological measures for clinical diagnosis of auditory deafferentation. This review synthesizes the findings from studies in humans and animals to answer some of the key questions in the field, and it points to gaps in knowledge that warrant more investigation. Specifically, recent studies suggest that some electrophysiological measures have the potential to function as indicators of hidden hearing loss in humans, but more research is needed for these measures to be included as part of a clinical test battery., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: Acute acoustic trauma (AAT) is characterized by cochlea-vestibular signs following intense noise exposure, often caused by impulse noise. French military faces a high risk of AAT because of the use of weapons with peak sound levels exceeding 150 dB. Hearing loss (HL) resulting from AAT can have a significant impact on quality of life and operational capacity. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of long-term hearing impairment after AAT., Materials and Methods: The study involved a retrospective review of computer-based patient records from four military medical centers in Northeast France between January 2016 and December 2021. The inclusion criteria required the presence of cochlea-vestibular signs following impulse acoustic exposure and the absence of other causes. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, including audiometric data before and after exposure. The primary end point was the presence of a threshold elevation greater than 10 dB between reference and late audiograms., Results: A total of 419 patients were included in the analysis, with a majority of males (n = 419; 84.7%) and a mean age of 23.6 yrs. The most common causative agent was the 5.56-mm assault rifle (n = 327; 78.0%). Tinnitus was the most frequent symptom (n = 366; 87.4%), followed by hypoacusis (n = 147; 35.1%) and earache (n = 89; 21.2%). The initial audiograms showed no HL in 31.0% of cases, while the mean deficit across all frequencies was 15.4 dB. All patients received corticosteroid therapy, with a mean duration of 6.0 d. Late audiograms conducted at an average interval of 448.0 d after AAT revealed a prevalence of long-term HL exceeding 20%. Higher doses of corticosteroid therapy (>1 mg/kg) were associated with a reduced frequency of long-term HL., Conclusions: This study highlights the prevalence of long-term hearing impairment after AAT in the French military. The findings emphasize the importance of preventive measures, including proper use of hearing protection devices, and the need for timely diagnosis and treatment. Further research is warranted to explore gender susceptibility to AAT and evaluate the impact of different weapons on AAT characteristics. The study also underscores the potential benefits of higher doses of corticosteroid therapy in reducing the risk of long-term hearing impairment. Overall, the findings contribute to a better understanding of AAT and can inform strategies for its prevention and management in military settings., (© The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2023. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are a non-invasive metric of cochlear function. Studies of OAEs in musicians have yielded mixed results, ranging from evidence of diminished OAEs in musicians-suggesting noise-induced hearing loss-to no difference when compared to non-musicians, or even a trend for stronger OAEs in musicians. The goal of this study was to use a large sample of college students with normal hearing (n = 160) to compare OAE SNRs in musicians and non-musicians and to explore potential effects of training recency and noise exposure on OAEs in these cohorts. The musician cohort included both active musicians (who at the time of enrollment practiced at least weekly) and past musicians (who had at least 6 years of training). All participants completed a questionnaire about recent noise exposure (previous 12 months), and a subset of participants (71 musicians and 15 non-musicians) wore a personal noise dosimeter for one week to obtain a more nuanced and objective measure of exposure to assess how different exposure levels may affect OAEs before the emergence of a clinically significant hearing loss. OAEs were tested using both transient-evoked OAEs (TEOAEs) and distortion-product OAEs (DPOAEs). As predicted from the literature, musicians experienced significantly higher noise levels than non-musicians based on both subjective (self-reported) and objective measures. Yet we found stronger TEOAEs and DPOAEs in musicians compared to non-musicians in the ∼1-5 kHz range. Comparisons between past and active musicians suggest that enhanced cochlear function in young adult musicians does not require active, ongoing musical practice. Although there were no significant relations between OAEs and noise exposure as measured by dosimetry or questionnaire, active musicians had weaker DPOAEs than past musicians when the entire DPOAE frequency range was considered (up to ∼16 kHz), consistent with a subclinical noise-induced hearing loss that only becomes apparent when active musicians are contrasted with a cohort of individuals with comparable training but without the ongoing risks of noise exposure. Our findings suggest, therefore, that separate norms should be developed for musicians for earlier detection of incipient hearing loss. Potential explanations for enhanced cochlear function in musicians include pre-existing (inborn or demographic) differences, training-related enhancements of cochlear function (e.g., upregulation of prestin, stronger efferent feedback mechanisms), or a combination thereof. Further studies are needed to determine if OAE enhancements offer musicians protection against damage caused by noise exposure., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Cochlear synaptopathy, a form of cochlear deafferentation, has been demonstrated in a number of animal species, including non-human primates. Both age and noise exposure contribute to synaptopathy in animal models, indicating that it may be a common type of auditory dysfunction in humans. Temporal bone and auditory physiological data suggest that age and occupational/military noise exposure also lead to synaptopathy in humans. The predicted perceptual consequences of synaptopathy include tinnitus, hyperacusis, and difficulty with speech-in-noise perception. However, confirming the perceptual impacts of this form of cochlear deafferentation presents a particular challenge because synaptopathy can only be confirmed through post-mortem temporal bone analysis and auditory perception is difficult to evaluate in animals. Animal data suggest that deafferentation leads to increased central gain, signs of tinnitus and abnormal loudness perception, and deficits in temporal processing and signal-in-noise detection. If equivalent changes occur in humans following deafferentation, this would be expected to increase the likelihood of developing tinnitus, hyperacusis, and difficulty with speech-in-noise perception. Physiological data from humans is consistent with the hypothesis that deafferentation is associated with increased central gain and a greater likelihood of tinnitus perception, while human data on the relationship between deafferentation and hyperacusis is extremely limited. Many human studies have investigated the relationship between physiological correlates of deafferentation and difficulty with speech-in-noise perception, with mixed findings. A non-linear relationship between deafferentation and speech perception may have contributed to the mixed results. When differences in sample characteristics and study measurements are considered, the findings may be more consistent., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Exposure to intense low-frequency sounds, for example inside tanks and armoured vehicles, can lead to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) with a variable audiometric pattern, including low- and mid-frequency hearing loss. It is not known how well existing methods for diagnosing NIHL apply in such cases. Here, the audiograms of 68 military personnel (mostly veterans) who had been exposed to intense low-frequency noise (together with other types of noise) and who had low-frequency hearing loss (defined as a pure-tone average loss at 0.25, 0.5 and 1 kHz ≥20 dB) were used to assess the sensitivity of three diagnostic methods: the method of Coles, Lutman and Buffin, denoted CLB, which depends on the identification of a notch or bulge in the audiogram near 4 kHz, and two methods specifically intended for diagnosing NIHL sustained during military service, the rM-NIHL method, which depends on the identification of a notch or bulge in the audiogram near 4 kHz and/or a hearing loss at high frequencies greater than expected from age alone, and the MLP(18) method based on a multi-layer perceptron. The proportion of individuals receiving a positive diagnosis for either or both ears, which provides an approximate measure of sensitivity, was 0.40 for the CLB method, 0.79 for the rM-NIHL method and 1.0 for the MLP(18) method. It is concluded that the MLP(18) method is suitable for diagnosing NIHL sustained during military service whether or not the exposure includes intense low-frequency sounds., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsAuthors Moore and Cox write reports in relation to claims for compensation for NIHL.

Objective: We aimed to assess the association between occupational noise exposure and long-term hearing decline., Design: This prospective cohort study used linear regression to investigate the association between occupational noise exposure and 20-year hearing decline, adjusted for important confounders., Study Sample: The Norwegian cohort ( N  = 4,448) participated in two population-based health studies with pure-tone audiometry; HUNT2 1996-1998 and HUNT4 2017-2019. Exposure assessments included a quantitative job exposure matrix (JEM) and questionnaires., Results: The participants (40.2% men, 20-39 years at baseline) had a mean 20-year decline (3-6 kHz) of 11.3 ± 9.8 decibels (dB). There was a positive association between 20-year logarithmic average noise level (JEM-based, L EX,20y ) and 20-year hearing decline among men. Compared with no exposure ≥80 dB during follow-up, minimum 5 years of exposure ≥85 dB (JEM-based) predicted 2.6 dB (95% CI: 0.2-5.0) larger 20-year decline for workers aged 30-39 years at baseline, and -0.2 dB (95% CI: -2.2 to 1.7) for workers aged 20-29 years. Combining JEM information with self-reported noise exposure data resulted in stronger associations., Conclusion: This large longitudinal study shows an association between JEM-based noise exposure level and increased 20-year hearing decline among men. Contrary to expectations, the associations were weaker among younger workers, which might reflect a latency period.

Objectives: To examine general risk propensity in relation to perceptions of noise, risk behaviour, and hearing loss in the general population., Design: Participants completed an online survey using the Amazon Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform., Study Sample: The sample comprised 1274 adults from the United States., Results: Higher general risk propensity was associated with an increased likelihood to engage in noise-risk behaviours. Lower general risk propensity was associated with increased knowledge of noise risks and an increased perception of noise as risky. The frequency of self-reported exposures to hazardous noise resulted in estimated annual noise doses exceeding standard hazard limits in 40% of the surveyed population., Conclusions: Results revealed limited knowledge of the risks and associated health consequences of noise exposure in the general population Results of this study suggest a high rate of self-exposure to hazardous noise by the general population. Those with higher general risk propensity are more likely to engage in risky noise behaviour. Risky noise behaviour is associated with age, gender, race, ethnicity, and general risk propensity. Intervention programs to modify risky noise behaviour in the general population should focus on both increasing knowledge and establishing accurate perceptions of risk.

Background:  The South African Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) Regulations, mandates employers to conduct a noise risk assessment, which records specific variables for determining the status of exposure and the need for implementation of control measures., Objectives:  The study evaluated company noise risk assessment practices for alignment with legal requirements and specific risk assessment guidelines., Method:  Convenience sampling was used to select the four manufacturing and utilities companies that participated in the study. The participating companies submitted latest noise risk assessment records for evaluation through the READ approach., Results:  The noise risk assessment records of three of the four companies omitted the recording of factors such as the reasonable deterioration in or failure of control measures, adequate control and formalisation of hearing conservation programmes (HCPs). When evaluated against the South African National Standard 31000 Risk Assessment guidelines, the risk assessment processes of the respective companies were lacking in addressing aspects related to establishing communication and consultation, evaluation, adapting, continually improving, leadership and commitment, and integration., Conclusion:  The recorded information on the noise risk assessment reports from the four participating companies were incomplete, negatively affecting subsequent HCP management processes and decision-making. Future studies should investigate other aspects such as the implementation status of recommended noise controls as well as their effectiveness as recorded in the noise risk assessment records.Contribution: This study provided firsthand insights of company noise risk assessment practices, specifically identifying functional and technical areas requiring improvement to enhance current efforts directed towards the minimisation of NIHL within HCPs. The study highlighted that the current practices on recording noise risk assessment information remain incomplete, adversely diminishing the impact of the assessment as an important decision-making tool. The identified technical issues specifically, when addressed, will increase trust on the decisions derived from noise risk assessments.

Objective: To analyze the audiology and occupational health data of applicants diagnosed of occupational noise deafness, and to explore the influencing factors in the diagnosis of suspected occupational noise deafness. Methods: In May 2022, the information of patients diagnosed with occupational noise deafness in Peking University Third Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 was collected, and the occupational health data of their working environment, clinical audiological examination results and diagnosis basis of occupational noise deafness were collected and analyzed. Multi-factor unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to analyze independent risk factors for the diagnosis of occupational noise deafness. Results: A total of 129 subjects were included, all of which were suspected cases of occupational noise deafness found in various occupational health examination institutions. Eight cases (6.20%) were diagnosed as occupational noise deafness, and 121 cases (93.80%) were non-occupational noise deafness. After hearing examination, only 27.27% (24/88) of the patients' audiological changes were consistent with the starting point of occupational noise deafness diagnosis. Further analysis of the noise intensity in the workplace showed that 16 patients were identified as non-occupational noise deafness because the noise intensity of the working environment was less than 85 dB. Logistic regression analysis showed that the working hours were more than 8 hours ( OR =9.274, 95% CI : 1.388-61.950, P =0.022) and the noise intensity of the working environment ( OR =1.189, 95% CI : 1.059-1.334, P =0.003) were independent risk factors for the diagnosis of occupational noise deafness. Conclusion: The exclusion rate of suspected occupational noise deafness found in occupational health examination is higher after adequate rest. The test results of working environment noise intensity provided by the employer can help to determine occupational noise deafness.

Objective: To analyze factors influencing the underestimation of noise-induced permanent threshold shift (NIPTS) among manufacturing workers, providing baseline data for revising noise exposure standard., Design: A cross-sectional study was designed with 2702 noise-exposed workers from 35 enterprises from 10 industries. Personal noise exposure level(L Aeq,8h ) and noise kurtosis level were determined by a noise dosimeter. Questionnaires and hearing loss tests were performed for each subject. The predicted NIPTS was calculated using the ISO 1999:2013 model for each participant, and the actual measured NIPTS was corrected for age and sex. The factors influencing the underestimation of NIPTS were investigated., Results: The predicted NIPTS at each test frequency (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6kHz) and mean NIPTS at 2, 3, 4, and 6kHz (NIPTS 2346 ) using the ISO 1999:2013 model were significantly lower than their corresponding measured NIPTS, respectively (P < 0.001). The ISO model significantly underestimated the NIPTS 2346 by 12.36 dB HL. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that noise exposure level, exposure duration, age, and kurtosis could affect the degree of underestimation of NIPTS 2346 . The generalized additive model (GAM) with (penalized) spline components showed nonlinear relationships between critical factors (age, exposure duration, noise level, and kurtosis) and the underestimated NIPTS 2346 .The underestimated NIPTS 2346 decreased with an increase in exposure duration (especially over ten years). There was no apparent trend in the underestimated NIPTS 2346 with age. The underestimated NIPTS 2346 decreased with the increased noise level [especially > 90 dB(A)]. The underestimated NIPTS 2346 increased with an increase in noise kurtosis after adjusting for the noise exposure level and exposure duration and ultimately exhibiting a linear regression relationship., Conclusions: The ISO 1999 predicting model significantly underestimated the noise-induced hearing loss among manufacturing workers. The degree of underestimation became more significant at the noise exposure condition of fewer than ten years, less than 90 dB(A), and higher kurtosis levels. It is necessary to apply kurtosis to adjust the underestimation of hearing loss and consider the applying condition of noise energy metrics when using the ISO predicting model., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Introduction: This prospective, multi-site, observational study describes ongoing efforts in support of the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Section 734 Blast Overpressure Study (BOS) to identify the acute effects impulse and blast exposure have on hearing abilities of the Warfighter in various military training environments., Materials and Methods: Hearing thresholds, a binaural tone detection task, and auditory symptoms were collected before and immediately following weapons exposure across nine military training environments from January 2020 to October 2022. An additional 25 non-exposed control participants also completed the behavioral test battery. A boothless audiometer was used to measure hearing ability in the field. Sound level meters were attached on-body to record the exposure environment throughout training., Results: Mean threshold change for the blast-exposed group was worse than the control group. Of the 188 blast-exposed participants, 23 experienced a temporary threshold shift (TTS) acutely after exposure. A decrease in binaural tone detection performance and increased symptom severity was found when comparing blast-exposed participants with a TTS versus those without a significant change in hearing. A complex but consistent relationship between measured exposure level (LAeq8hr) and the magnitude of the resulting TTS is suggested in the available data., Conclusions: Recent discussions on Section 734 studies examining the effects of repetitive blast exposure have indicated that hearing-related issues were a critical problem that needed additional research. Study outcomes provide highly repeatable results across various weapons systems with hazardous blast exposure. This standardized set of hearing assessment tools for evaluating acute effects of noise under field conditions has been critically important in improving our understanding of TTS in prospective human subject research., (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2023. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.)

Objective: To examine the association between individual and cumulative leisure noise exposure in addition to acceptable yearly exposure (AYE) and hearing outcomes among a nationally representative sample of Canadians., Design: Audiometry, distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and in-person questionnaires were used to evaluate hearing and leisure noise exposure across age, sex, and household income/education level. High-risk cumulative leisure noise exposure was defined as 85 dBA or greater for 40 h or more per week, with AYE calculations also based on this occupational limit., Study Sample: A randomised sample of 10,460 respondents, aged 6-79, completed questionnaires and hearing evaluations between 2012 and 2015., Results: Among 50-79 year olds, high-risk cumulative leisure noise was associated with increased odds of a notch while high exposure to farming/construction equipment noise was associated with hearing loss, notches and absent DPOAEs. No associations with hearing loss were found however, non-significant tendencies observed included higher mean hearing thresholds, notches and hearing loss odds., Conclusion: Educational outreach and monitoring of hearing among young and middle-aged populations exposed to hazardous leisure noise would be beneficial.

Background: One still encounters opinion that hearing loss with high-pitch notched audiogram is invariably due to noise-induced hearing loss. This paper tests this misapprehension., Methods: A study was conducted of patients identified in a prospective manner with notched audiograms but no history of noise exposure occurring in an otolaryngological practice over a 20-year period., Results: A cohort of 26 hearing loss patients, in whom notched audiograms were not associated with historical evidence of noise exposure, was documented., Conclusion: The findings confirm that a notched audiogram is not pathognomonic of noise-induced hearing loss.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics and electrophysiological changes in patients with different degrees of noise-induced hearing loss compared with those of normal controls to elucidate the progression of auditory neural damage attributed to noise exposure., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted through a review of the medical records for the patients who presented to a tertiary referral center. Sixty-nine participants were included in the study: 29 had noise-induced hearing loss, and 40 were healthy controls. All the participants underwent electrophysiological tests and pure-tone audiometry., Results: Nine patients showed mild hearing loss (mild hearing loss group), while the others showed worse than moderate hearing loss on puretone audiometry (severe hearing loss group). Significantly reduced wave I and V amplitudes of auditory brainstem response were present in both mild and severe hearing loss groups compared to the control group (P -lt; .001 and P=.002, respectively), without significant differences between the mild and severe hearing loss groups. In the multivariate analysis, auditory brainstem response wave V amplitude was negatively associated with auditory brainstem response wave I-V inter-peak latency delay (B=-0.48, P=.02)., Conclusion: The results of the present study confirm the similarity in the electrophysiological characteristics between the mild and severe hearing loss groups. Thus, widespread disruption in the auditory neural conduction could have been established in the early period when the patient developed mild hearing loss following noise exposure.

The hearing loss is one of the significant problems in the world. The disease can develop both for genetic reasons and under influence of external factors at work. The noise is the main indicator of occupational risk of hearing loss. Due to influence of noise and vibration, in certain crew members of water vessel develops professional sensorineural hearing loss that subsequently prevents signing of employment contract and continuation of work at sea. This circumstance confirms actuality of stated problematic. The article presents types of sensorineural hearing loss depending on classification criterion. The features of professional activities of seafarers in conditions of strong noise exposure are revealed. The methods of identifying hearing defects in ship crew members are determined. The advisable measures to protect hearing health and to prevent deafness are formulated.

Purpose: Pure-tone audiometry (PTA) is the gold standard for screening and diagnosis of hearing loss but is not always accessible. This study evaluated a simplified cochlear frequency selectivity (FS) measure as an alternative option to screen for early frequency-specific sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL)., Methods: FS measures at 1 and 4 kHz center frequencies were obtained using a custom-made software in normal-hearing (NH), slight SNHL and mild-to-moderate SNHL subjects. For comparison, subjects were also assessed with the Malay Digit Triplet Test (DTT) and the shortened Malay Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) questionnaire., Results: Compared to DTT and SSQ, the FS measure at 4 kHz was able to distinguish NH from slight and mild-to-moderate SNHL subjects, and was strongly correlated with their thresholds in quiet determined separately in 1-dB step sizes at the similar test frequency. Further analysis with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves indicated area under the curve (AUC) of 0.77 and 0.83 for the FS measure at 4 kHz when PTA thresholds of NH subjects were taken as ≤ 15 dB HL and ≤ 20 dB HL, respectively. At the optimal FS cut-off point for 4 kHz, the FS measure had 77.8% sensitivity and 86.7% specificity to detect 20 dB HL hearing loss., Conclusion: FS measure was superior to DTT and SSQ questionnaire in detecting early frequency-specific threshold shifts in SNHL subjects, particularly at 4 kHz. This method could be used for screening subjects at risk of noise-induced hearing loss., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Occupational explosive hearing loss is often caused by close exposure to blasting operations or the impact waves and strong pulse noise generated by explosions of flammable and explosive chemicals, pressure vessels, etc. in the workplace. This article analyzes the diagnosis of a case of occupational explosive hearing loss caused by non explosion, in order to improve the flexible application of diagnostic standards by occupational disease diagnosis physicians.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the attitudes to noise in young adults and the possible effects of gender, age, and a positive history of auditory symptoms related to recreational noise exposure on the attitudes to noise in this population., Design: The Youth Attitude to Noise (YANS) and the hearing symptom description (HSD) scales were adapted into Spanish to be used with young adults. The validity was determined using factor analyses and Item Response Theory (IRT) models. Linear regression models were used to determine whether the YANS scores were associated with gender, age, and auditory symptoms., Study Sample: Both instruments were given to a sample of 728 Chilean young adults. Data obtained from this sample was used to determine the YANS and HSD scales' validity and to assess the effects of gender, age, and auditory symptoms on attitudes., Results: Our results showed that the YANS and HSD scales had adequate validity and reliability. Differences in the items' capacity to discriminate attitudes to noise were noted using the IRT model. Auditory symptoms were significantly associated with the YANS scores., Conclusions: The attitudes to noise in Chilean young adults are influenced by self-perception of auditory symptoms, age, and gender.

Background: Tinnitus, the perception of sound without external stimuli, varies across hearing loss types. The present study compared the acoustic characteristics of tinnitus in patients with noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and in those with hearing loss unrelated to noise exposure., Objective: This study compared the acoustic characteristics of tinnitus in patients with noise-induced and non-noise-induced hearing loss., Methods: A total of 403 patients with tinnitus were divided into those with noise-induced and non-noise-induced hearing loss. Patients were evaluated by pure tone audiometry (PTA), tinnitogram, transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE), distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), and auditory brainstem evoked response (ABR) tests., Results: Patients with NIHL exhibited significantly higher hearing thresholds across all frequencies (125-8000 Hz) ( p  < .05) and reported significantly higher tinnitus intensity ( p  < .05). Otoacoustic emission tests showed that response rates were significantly lower ( p  < .05), and ABR tests found that latency periods were significantly more prolonged ( p  < .05), in patients with NIHL., Conclusions: Tinnitus differs acoustically between patients with NIHL and those with non-noise-induced hearing loss, with specific patterns of intensity and auditory responses. These findings emphasize the need for tailoring the management of tinnitus according to the underlying type of hearing loss.

Objective: Hearing screening can be used to detect hearing loss, but its value for identifying employees with work functioning difficulties is unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the association between the hearing status measured with an occupational hearing-in-noise screening test, Listening Effort (LE), and Need For Recovery (NFR) in employees of a manufacturing company, and to examine whether these associations depend on the perceived noise level at the workplace., Methods: Employees of coatings and paints manufacturing company were included. Their hearing status was assessed with an occupational hearing-in-noise screening test. An online survey was used to assess their LE, NFR, and the perceived noise level at the workplace. Responses from 143 employees were analyzed (mean age = 53 years) using hierarchical multiple regression analysis with the outcomes LE and NFR., Results: Regression analysis-with adjustments for gender, age, educational level, health status, pace/amount of work, job variety, and work pleasure-revealed that hearing status was significantly associated with LE, but the interaction between hearing status and the perceived noise level was not. Hearing status nor the interaction between hearing status and the perceived noise level was significantly associated with NFR., Conclusion: The results confirm that poorer hearing is associated with higher LE, but not with higher NFR. These associations were unrelated to the perceived noise level at the workplace. Therefore, the value of occupational hearing screening appears to be early identification of hearing loss in employees, but not identification of work functioning difficulties., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: This study aimed to identify the characteristics of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) that can be used to differentiate noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) from age-related hearing loss. A potential index to detect NIHL was defined in terms of its susceptibility to cumulative noise exposure but not to age., Design: In this cross-sectional cohort study, a job-exposure matrix was used to calculate the cumulative noise exposure. Multivariate linear regression models were used to examine how age and cumulative noise exposure associated with DPOAEs at individual frequencies after adjusting for hypertension, dyslipidaemia, tobacco use and alcohol consumption., Study Sample: The pure-tone audiometry and DPOAEs data collected from 239 male workers in a steel factory., Results: DPOAEs and DPOAE signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) at all frequencies were found to be correlated with age, and those at 2, 3, 4 and 6 kHz were correlated with both age and noise exposure. The difference between DPOAE SNR at 1 and 3 kHz showed significant correlation with noise exposure but not with age., Conclusions: The results showed that this DPOAE index, the DPOAE SNR at 1 kHz minus the DPOAE SNR at 3 kHz, could add values to audiometric evaluation of NIHL.

Hearing loss is a significant global health concern, affecting billions of people and leading to various physical, mental, and social consequences. This paper focuses on the risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among specific healthcare professionals, especially ear surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, dentists, and dental hygienists, who frequently use noisy instruments in their professions. While studies on these professionals' noise exposure levels are limited, certain conditions and factors could pose a risk to their hearing. Measures such as engineering and administrative controls, regular audiometric testing, and the use of hearing protection devices are crucial in preventing NIHL. Early detection and intervention are also vital to mitigate further damage. This paper proposes the results of a modified screening protocol, including questionnaires, audiometry, and additional diagnostic tests to identify and address potential hearing disorders. Specific healthcare professionals should remain aware of the risks, prioritize hearing protection, and undergo regular monitoring to safeguard their long-term auditory well-being.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and hypertension, and the association between NIHL and hypertension using occupational physical examination data of 42,588 noise-exposed workers from local enterprises in Yangzhou between 2015 and 2017. The average binaural high-frequency threshold on average (BHFTA), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 23.09 ± 11.32 dB, 126.85 ± 15.94 mm Hg and 79.94 ± 11.61 mm Hg. The prevalence of NIHL and hypertension were 24.38% and 25.40%. An increased risk of NIHL and hypertension was observed in the groups of males, aged >35 years, noise exposure time >5 years, noise exposure level >85 dB(A) and smoking. 32.25% NIHL workers had hypertension. NIHL workers were at higher risk of hypertension (adjusted OR = 1.07, 95%CI = 1.02-1.13). This study shows that the noise-exposed workers have high risk of developing NIHL and hypertension.

Objective: This study compared the pre-employment median hearing threshold level (HTL) distribution from a population of coal miners from New South Wales (NSW), Australia, to an otologically normal, age-matched population described by the International Standards Organisation (ISO) ISO 7029:2019, to determine any differences., Design: This was an observational, retrospective, repeated cross-sectional study., Study Sample: De-identified audiometric records of 59,601 male employees entering NSW coal mining in three representative five-year periods between 1991 and 2015 were utilised., Results: The median HTL deviation of the mining population was statistically significantly different ( p  < 0.05) from the ISO population, for almost all analyses. Overall, the mining population cohorts have higher (worse) median HTLs compared to the ISO population. The greatest difference occurs at 4 kHz in older age groups, likely indicating noise-induced hearing loss., Conclusion: These findings indicate that some NSW coal mine workers commence their careers with evidence of pre-existing hearing loss (HL), in an industry with excessive noise exposures. These results provide Australian mining and other noisy industries with evidence to support a review of hearing conservation strategies to improve mitigation of hearing loss across the working lifespan.

Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the frequency and type of firework-associated acoustic trauma occurring in Germany on New Year's Eve 2021, despite the ban on firework sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic., Materials and Methods: The survey period lasted 7 days, from 28 December 2021 to 03 January 2022. A questionnaire inquired date, type and treatment of trauma, sex, and age of the patient, and whether the trauma occurred when lighting or watching fireworks. Hearing impairment was classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO grades 0 to 4), and concomitant tinnitus, vertigo, or other injuries were recorded. The questionnaire was sent to the otorhinolaryngology departments of 171 hospitals in Germany., Results: Of 37 otorhinolaryngology departments, 16 reported no and 21 reported 50 patients with firework-associated acoustic trauma. Mean age was 29 ± 16 years and 41 of 50 patients were males. Of these 50 patients, 22 presented without and 28 with hearing loss, 32 reported tinnitus and 3 vertigo; 20 patients were injured when lighting fireworks and 30 when watching. Hearing impairment was classified as 14 × WHO grade 0, 5 × WHO grade 1, 4 × WHO grade 2, 2 × WHO grade 3, and 3 × WHO grade 4. Inpatient treatment was received by 8 patients and 11 suffered from concomitant burn injuries., Conclusion: Despite the sales ban, some firework-associated acoustic traumas occurred at New Year 2021/2022 in Germany. Some instances led to hospitalization, but an even higher number of unreported cases can be assumed. This study can serve as a baseline for further annual surveys to raise the awareness of the danger of seemingly harmless fireworks for the individual., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objectives: To investigate the annual rate of NIHL in Israel, a modern economy with relatively low industrial hazardous noise exposure. To review international protocols of hearing surveillance. To recommend an effective, efficient, hearing screening frequency protocol., Methods: A historical cohort study was conducted. Audiometric surveillance data from the Jerusalem occupational medicine registry of male employees in various industries from 2006 to 2017 were used. Mean individual annual threshold shifts simulating 1-8 checkup interval years were calculated. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to assess the interval in which the slope of the calculated ATS variability moderates significantly., Results: A total of 263 noise-exposed workers and 93 workers in the comparison group produced 1913 audiograms for analysis. Among the noise-exposed workers, using the 1-4 kHz average, threshold shifts stabilized from 3 years onwards at around 1 dB per year in all age groups and 0.83 dB in the stratum younger than 50 years. No enhanced decline was detected in the first years of exposure., Conclusion: Although most countries conduct annual hearing surveillance, hearing threshold shifts of noise-exposed workers become more accurate and show less variability when calculated at 3-year checkup intervals onwards than shorter intervals. Since margins of errors of the test method are much larger than the annual shift found, screening schedule that enables each subsequent test to identify a real deterioration in hearing is necessary. Triennial audiometric screening would be a better surveillance frequency for noise-exposed workers younger than 50 years of age in the category of 85-95 dBL Aeq,8 h without other known risk factors., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: To explore the diagnostic auditory indicators of high noise exposure and combine them into a diagnostic model of high noise exposure and possible development of hidden hearing loss (HHL)., Methods: We recruited 101 young adult subjects and divided them according to noise exposure history into high-risk and low-risk groups. All subjects completed demographic characteristic collection (including age, noise exposure, self-reported hearing status, and headset use) and related hearing examination., Results: The 8 kHz (P = 0.039) and 10 kHz (P = 0.005) distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitudes (DPOAE) (DPs) in the high-risk group were lower than those in the low-risk group. The amplitudes of the summating potential (SP) (P = 0.017) and action potential (AP) (P = 0.012) of the electrocochleography (ECochG) in the high-risk group were smaller than those in the low-risk group. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) wave III amplitude in the high-risk group was higher than that in the low-risk group. When SNR = - 7.5 dB (P = 0.030) and - 5 dB (P = 0.000), the high-risk group had a lower speech discrimination score than that of the low-risk group. The 10 kHz DPOAE DP, ABR wave III amplitude and speech discrimination score under noise with SNR = - 5 dB were combined to construct a combination diagnostic indicator. The area under the ROC curve was 0.804 (95% CI 0.713-0.876), the sensitivity was 80.39%, and the specificity was 68.00%., Conclusions: We expect that high noise exposure can be detected early with this combined diagnostic indicator to prevent HHL or sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL)., Trial Registration Number/date of Registration: ChiCTR2200057989, 2022/3/25., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) often results in impaired functional hearing and accidental injuries; thus, reducing military performance and endangering flight safety. While a few studies addressing laterality (left-right ear differences) and NIHL incidence between fixed-winged (jet-fighter) and rotary-wing (helicopter) aircrafts yielded inconsistent results, little is known about the NIHL profile among different types of jet-fighter pilots. This study aims to conduct a fine-grained examination of NIHL among Airforce jet pilots, with planned comparisons of laterality and aircraft type, along with the goal to compare the sensitivity of different hearing indices in predicting military pilot NIHL., Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study utilizes the health and hearing data of 1025 Taiwanese Air Force Military pilots from the 2019 Taiwanese physical examination database to assess the changes in their hearing thresholds, and evaluate their risk for NIHL., Results: Our results showed that, among available military aircraft types, the trainer aircraft and M2000-5 jet-fighter had the highest risk of NIHL, in addition to a left ear inferiority found in the overall population of military pilots. Among the three hearing indices used in this study -the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) three-point hearing index, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) three-point hearing index, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery's (AAO-HNS) high-frequency three-point hearing index-, the OSHA the AAO-HNS were the most sensitive., Conclusion: Our results suggest a better noise protection for trainer and M2000-5 pilots, especially for the left ear, is warranted., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: High-throughput sequencing of genes indicating susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss has not previously been reported., Aims/objectives: To identify and analyze genes associated with susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and characterize differences in susceptibility to hearing loss by genotype., Material and Methods: Pure tone audiometry tests were performed on 113 workers exposed to high-intensity noise. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was conducted and NIHL susceptibility genes screened for training unsupervised and supervised machine learning models. Immunofluorescence staining of mouse cochlea was used to observe patterns of NIHL susceptibility gene expression., Results: Participants were divided into a NIHL and a control group, according to the results of audiometry tests. Seventy-three possible NIHL susceptibility genes were input into the machine learning model. Two subgroups of NIHL could be distinguished by unsupervised machine learning and the classification was evaluated by the supervised machine learning algorithm. The VWF gene had the highest mutation frequency in the NIHL group and was expressed mainly in the spiral ligament., Conclusions and Significance: NIHL susceptibility genes were screened and NIHL subgroups could be distinguished. VWF may be a novel NIHL susceptibility gene.

Objectives: The risk of noise injury from recreational firearm use is well known. Despite preventive measures it is uncertain whether it has become less harmful. We assessed whether the association between recreational firearm use and hearing has changed during the last two decades., Design: We used a repeated cross-sectional design and determined hearing thresholds by pure-tone audiometry. Frequency-specific associations between recreational firearm use and hearing thresholds were assessed by multivariate linear regression stratified by sex and adjusted for age and other covariates., Study Sample: Two cross-sectional population-based cohorts 20 years apart (1998 and 2018) comprised 27,580 (53% women, mean age 53 years) and 26,606 individuals (56% women, mean age 54 years), respectively., Results: Recreational firearm use was reported by 28% in 1998 and 30% in 2018. The proportion that reported wearing hearing protection increased. Exposure to recreational firearms was associated with elevated thresholds at 3-6 kHz in both cohorts. The association increased with the number of lifetime shots. The associations increased by age and were substantially smaller in the most recent cohort., Conclusions: Analyses of two cohorts revealed a reduction in the association between recreational firearm use and hearing over 20 years, coinciding with the introduction of hearing preservation measures.

Purpose: Exposure to noise can cause damage to both auditory and vestibular systems. The objective of this study is to evaluate how noise exposure affects the hearing and vestibular systems in individuals with noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)., Methods: This study included 80 subjects (40 subjects with NIHL, and 40 controls), between 26 and 59 years old. For hearing assessment, pure-tone audiometry, extended high-frequency audiometry, tympanometry, acoustic reflex threshold, and distortion product otoacoustic emission tests were used; for vestibular assessment, the cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials tests were used., Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in 3 to 6 kHz frequency thresholds; in extended high-frequency audiometry tests, there were also significant differences between groups at all frequencies from 9.5 to 16 kHz. The cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials thresholds were significantly higher and N1-P1 amplitudes were significantly lower in the NIHL group., Conclusion: Noise can lead to damage to both auditory and vestibular functions. Therefore, audiological assessments and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials could be clinically useful for examining patients with NIHL., Competing Interests: None

Introduction: Noise-induced hearing loss is a type of sensorineural hearing loss caused by long-term exposure to loud noise. This study provides insight into hearing loss problems the general population faces. The study aimed to find out the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss among patients needing pure tone audiometry evaluation in a tertiary care centre., Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 January 2021 to 30 July 2021 among patients requiring pure tone audiometry evaluation in the outpatient Department of Otorhinolaryngology in a tertiary care centre. The study was conducted after ethical approval from Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 2812202001). Pure tone audiometry was used to diagnose noise-induced hearing loss. Convenience sampling was done. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated., Results: Out of 690 patients, 14 (2.02%) (0.97-3.06, 95% Confidence Interval) were diagnosed with noise-induced hearing loss., Conclusions: The prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss among patients requiring pure tone audiometry evaluation was similar to other studies conducted in similar settings., Keywords: audiometry; noise-induced hearing loss; tinnitus.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine hearing thresholds in an otologically normal population without occupational noise exposure aged 18 to 64 years using extended high-frequency audiometry (EHFA)., Methods: Individuals from the general population who have never had hearing problems and whose job was not associated with noise exposure were included in the study and classified by age into 5 categories: 18-24 and, further, by 10 years of age. Each of these groups was further divided according to gender. All subjects underwent tympanometry, conventional pure-tone audiometry within the 0.125-8 kHz range, and extended high-frequency audiometry within the 9-16 kHz range, performed according to the standards. The significance level for statistical testing was set at 5%., Results: Here, we established hearing thresholds in an otologically healthy population within the extended high-frequency (EHF) range (9-16 kHz). We found the EHFA to be a highly sensitive method for early detection of hearing loss, with hearing thresholds decreasing as soon as 35 years of age. In males, the hearing thresholds grew with age more rapidly than in women. The ability to respond at EHF gradually decreased with age and increasing frequency., Conclusion: Our results can help improve the knowledge of EHF hearing thresholds for individual sexes and age groups. So far, the standard 7029:2017 is not binding and, moreover, it only reaches up to the frequency of 12.5 kHz. EHFA is a highly sensitive method for the evaluation of hearing loss depending on age and sex., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective: To explore the change of hearing threshold of workers exposed to noise, establish an individual-based hearing loss early warning model, accurately and differentiated the health of workers exposed to noise. Methods: In September 2019, all physical examination data of 561 workers exposed to noise from an enterprise were collected since their employment. Three indicators of average hearing threshold of the better ear, namely, at high frequency, 4000 Hz and speech frequency, were constructed. The generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to adjust gender and age and establish the warning model of each indicator. Finally, sensitive indicators and warning models were screened according to AUC and Yoden index. Results: Among the 561 workers exposed to noise, 26 (4.6%) workers had hearing loss. The sensitivity indicators were the average hearing threshold at speech frequency ≥20 dB, high frequency ≥30 dB and 4000 Hz ≥25 dB. The AUC of each index was 0.602, 0.794 and 0.804, and the Youden indexes were 0.204, 0.588 and 0.608, respectively. In GEE of hearing loss warning models, high-frequency hearing threshold ≥20 dB and 4000 Hz hearing threshold ≥25 dB were the optimal models, with AUC of 0.862. Conclusion: Combined with the changes of individual hearing threshold over the years, can accurately assess the risk of individual hearing loss of workers exposed to noise.

Background: Occupational noise is a common cause of hearing loss in low-income countries. Unfortunately, screening for hearing loss is rarely done due to technical and logistical challenges associated with pure tone audiometry. Wulira app is a valid and potentially cost-effective alternative to pure tone audiometry in screening for occupational hearing loss. We aimed to determine the prevalence of occupational hearing loss among workers in a metal industry company in Kampala district., Methodology: We recruited 354 participants conveniently from a steel and iron manufacturing industry in Kampala. All eligible participants answered a pretested and validated questionnaire and were assessed for noise induced hearing loss in a quiet office room approximately 500 meters from the heavy machinery area using the Wulira app. Descriptive statistics such as proportions were used to describe the study population while inferential statistics were used to determine associations., Results: Of the 354 participants sampled, 333 (94.1%) were male, and the median age was 27, IQR (25-30). Regarding the risk factors of hearing loss, fourteen (3.9%) had history of smoking and more than half (65.5%) had worked in the industry for more than 2 years. The overall prevalence of hearing loss among industrial workers was 11.3% (40/354). 16.2% and 9% had mild hearing loss in the right and left ear respectively. Bilateral audiometric notch was present where fourteen (4%) of the participants had notch in their right ear while seven (2%) had notch in their left ear. Residing outside Kampala district was associated with hearing loss (OR, 95% CI, 0.213 (0.063-0.725), p = 0.013)., Conclusion: One in 10 workers in a metal manufacturing industry in Kampala had occupational hearing loss. Industrial workers residing outside Kampala were likely to develop hearing loss. Periodic screening should be done for early detection and intervention to prevent progression of hearing loss in this population., Competing Interests: The authors have read the journal’s policy and have the following competing interests: CB is part of the team that developed the Wulira App. CB, JM, and AWS serve as employees of Wulira Health Limited in which Wulira App is a subsidiary. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. The other authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright: © 2023 Batte et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the frequency and type of firework-associated acoustic trauma occurring in Germany on New Year's Eve 2021, despite the ban on firework sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic., Materials and Methods: The survey period lasted 7 days, from 28 December 2021 to 03 January 2022. A questionnaire inquired date, type and treatment of trauma, sex, and age of the patient, and whether the trauma occurred when lighting or watching fireworks. Hearing impairment was classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO grades 0 to 4), and concomitant tinnitus, vertigo, or other injuries were recorded. The questionnaire was sent to the otorhinolaryngology departments of 171 hospitals in Germany., Results: Of 37 otorhinolaryngology departments, 16 reported no and 21 reported 50 patients with firework-associated acoustic trauma. Mean age was 29 ± 16 years and 41 of 50 patients were males. Of these 50 patients, 22 presented without and 28 with hearing loss, 32 reported tinnitus and 3 vertigo; 20 patients were injured when lighting fireworks and 30 when watching. Hearing impairment was classified as 14 × WHO grade 0, 5 × WHO grade 1, 4 × WHO grade 2, 2 × WHO grade 3, and 3 × WHO grade 4. Inpatient treatment was received by 8 patients and 11 suffered from concomitant burn injuries., Conclusion: Despite the sales ban, some firework-associated acoustic traumas occurred at New Year 2021/2022 in Germany. Some instances led to hospitalization, but an even higher number of unreported cases can be assumed. This study can serve as a baseline for further annual surveys to raise the awareness of the danger of seemingly harmless fireworks for the individual., (© 2022. The Author(s).)