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Speech recognition index of workers with tinnitus exposed to environmental or occupational noise: a comparative study

Authors :
Soalheiro Márcia
Rocha Lucelaine
do Vale Diane Francis
Fontes Viviane
Valente Daniel
Teixeira Liliane Reis
Source :
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, Vol 7, Iss 1, p 26 (2012)
Publication Year :
2012
Publisher :
BMC, 2012.

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Tinnitus is considered the third worst symptom affecting humans. The aim of this article is to assess complaints by workers with tinnitus exposed to environmental and occupational noise. Methodology 495 workers went through an epidemiological survey at the Audiology Department of the Center for Studies on Workers’ Health and Human Ecology, from 2003 to 2007. The workers underwent tonal and vocal audiometry, preceded by a clinical and occupational history questionnaire. Two-factor ANOVA and Tukey were the statistical tests used. All the analysis set statistical significance at α=5%. Findings There was a higher prevalence of occupational tinnitus (73.7%), a predominance of female domestic workers (65.4%) in cases of environmental exposure, and predominance of male construction workers (71.5%) for occupational exposure. There was a significant difference in workers with hearing loss, who showed a mean speech recognition index (SRI) of 85%, as compared to healthy workers with a mean SRI greater than 93.5%. Signs and symptoms, speech perception, and interference in sound localization with the type of noise exposure (environmental versus occupational) comparisons found no significant differences. Conclusion Studied group’s high prevalence of tinnitus, major difficulties in speech recognition with hearing loss and the presence of individuals with normal hearing with both types of exposure justify the importance of measures in health promotion, prevention, and hearing surveillance. The findings highlight the importance of valuing the patients’ own perception as the first indication of tinnitus and hearing loss in order to help develop appropriate public policies within the Unified National Health System (SUS).

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
17456673
Volume :
7
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.8f031e6c4454dad9c7117e122b9e7dd
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6673-7-26