Incidence and Risk Factors of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss among Occupational Noise Exposure Personnel in Bangkok Metropolitan Administration General Hospital
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Abstract
Objective: To study a prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss and risk factors among occupational noise exposure personnel in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration General Hospital before and after applying a preventive control.
Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study. The data had been reviewed from a preventive control performed between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2019. Then, we analyzed the annual audiograms of risked personnel in 2017 and 2019 to find the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss, significant threshold shift, and standard threshold shift to follow up. The demographic, work related, and using of personal protective equipment data had been analyzed to find risk factors of noise induced hearing loss among these risked personnel.
Results: The prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss among risked personnel was 37.9%. After the preventive control, the significant threshold shift was 8%, and standard threshold shift was 3.4%. The risk factors of the hearing loss were male, age and use of personal protective equipment. Even though, only 11.5% of risked personnel always used the protective equipment.
Conclusion: Standard threshold shift and significant threshold shift are effective to screen and follow up noise-induced hearing loss in risked personnel. Communication to make awareness about the disease and how to protect themselves properly would improve the effectiveness of the control.
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