IMPACTO DO RUÍDO OCUPACIONAL NA AUDIÇÃO E QUALIDADE DE VIDA DE TRABALHADORES INSERIDOS EM UM PROGRAMA DE CONSERVAÇÃO AUDITIVA. / IMPACT OF OCCUPATIONAL NOISE ON HEARING AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF WORKERS POSTED IN A HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM.

AUTOR(ES)
FONTE

IBICT - Instituto Brasileiro de Informação em Ciência e Tecnologia

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

28/04/2010

RESUMO

Noise is the most common harmful physical agent found in the workplace. This hazardous agent gains more importance when it is proved that the hearing damage caused by it is irreversible, and that the continuous exposure produces other organic, physiological and psycho-emotional disturbances that result in lower life quality and health of workers. This work evaluated the degree of hearing loss and life quality related to the workers health exposed to occupational noise. A total of 110 male workers between 22 and 58 years old were evaluated, with time exposure to occupational noise varying between 3 and 28 years. The workers were submitted to an audiometric evaluation, answered a semi-structured survey and filled in a life quality quiz SF-36. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) was classified according to the diagnostic criteria proposed by Fiorini (1994). Out of the total, 87 (79.1%) presented hearing conditions within normal standards (Group 1) and 23 (20.9%) were classified as suggestive to NIHL (Group 2). Among the 87 audiograms from Group 1, 47 (54%) were within normal standards without loss, and 29 (33%) with unilateral loss. Out of the 23 audiograms from Group 2, 19 (82.6%) were suggestive of bilateral HLIN. In the semi-structured survey, the main complaints from Groups 1 and 2, respectively, were: (95.4%) and (95.7%), considered the workplace to be noisy and had difficulties hearing/understanding others (85%) and (82.6%). Every worker stated that they use safety equipment for the ears. There has not been found a connection between the exposure to noise at the workplace and bad life quality independently of the presence of hearing loss, comparing the dominants as well as the mental and physical components. There has been a relatively high rate of hearing loss, however, the presence of it associated or not to a noisy workplace did not determine a bad global life quality.

ASSUNTO(S)

audiologia efeitos do ruído perda auditiva induzido por ruído qualidade de vida ruído ocupacional saúde ocupacional ciencias da saude audiology life quality noise effects noise-induced hearing loss occupational health occupational noise

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