Analysis of the significant threhold shift among female workers from a textile industry

Abstract

Considering that the audiometric testing and its objective and efficient analysis are fundamental steps to the prevention of hearing loss among noise-exposed workers, the present investigation aimed to study the occurrence of Significant Threshold Shift among female workers from a textile industry, in three-year period from 1966 to 1999. Eighty-five workers (mean age 36.7 years) participated in the study. Noise levels in the studied departments ranged from 72 to 94 dB(A). The participants underwent otoscopy and pure-tone audiometry at frequencies of 250 to 8000 Hz Testing was conducted in an audiology clinic difference of 10 dB or greater compared to the baseline at any of the frequencies in the range of 3, 4, 6 to 8 kHz was classified as a Significant Threshold Shift. In this study,significant thereshold shifts were observed in 99 ears. The shifts happened in each year of the study. The right ear was the most affected, and the shift occurred at 6 kHz in 52,5% of the cases. No other studies on Significant Thereshold Shifts have been conducted in Brazil with female workers, so the present results could not be compared with other investigations. Since the susceptibility to noise-induced to hearing loss seems to be associated to the individual’s gender, further study of this topic is recommended. The identification of Significant Thereshold Shift by looking at isolated test frequencies seems adequate for the development of preventive programs.