1999, Number 4
Individuals exposed to noise. Analysis of their pathology
Tirado GC, Jiménez RG, Bahena OL, Arrieta PJE
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 14
Page: 262-268
PDF size: 123.65 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: In some occupations, the frequency of worker’s requests for audiologic studies is high due to intense noise in their workin area.Objectives: To quantify the most frequent pathologies in a group of workers exposed to high noise levels. To evaluate the acoustic trauma with respect to time of exposure to noise. To correlate auditory illnesses to systemic disease, and to time of exposure to noise. To determine the correlation of tinnitus with acoustic trauma and with systemic disease. To determine the frequency of use of noise protectors and their association with auditory pathology.
Material and methods: A total of 1021 audiologic studies were analyzed, of workers who attended the Audiology Service at the National Respiratory Disease Institute, and correlated with the type of pathology, sex, age, time of exposure and use or not use of noise protectors.
Results: Acoustic trauma and bilateral corticopathy were the first cause of medical attention: 667 patients (65%). A fraction of these, 139 (14%), simulated loss of audition. Also, 496 patients (49%) had associated pathologies, among which systemic arterial hypertension was in first place, and 113 patients (11%) with normal audiometric study complained of tinnitus as the sole symptom.
Conclusions: Patients with acoustic trauma and systemic disease have more severe auditory damage. The longer the time of exposure to noise, the greater the auditory lesion, with no account of hability, since this parameter could not be previously evaluated. The use of noise protectors is not considered in our country.
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