Long-term assessment of auditory changes resulting from a single noise exposure associated with non-occupational activities.
We examined the long-term sequelae in both ears of 42 patients who reported the occurrence of auditory changes resulting from a single exposure to intense sound levels during non-occupational activities. We divided these patients into two groups, based upon noise exposures of either continuous duration or single high-energy impulse. Audiometric data were available for each of these subjects shortly after their noise-exposure events and follow-up examinations took place more than one year after the noise occurrence (range: 1-16 years). The initial median hearing loss for the continuous-type noise exposure group at 3-8 kHz was found to be 9 dB, relative to the age-appropriate norms, in the more affected ears, and hearing function was found to have returned to normal levels at follow-up. The same initial hearing loss was measured for the impulse-type noise group, but a residual hearing loss of 4 dB was measured at follow-up. Furthermore, the majority of the subjects from both groups reported tinnitus and hypersensitivity to sound at follow-up, but with minimal impact on their lives.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland. nicolas.schmuziger@ksa.ch
Nicolas
N
Schmuzigert
Karolos
K
Fostiropoulos
Rudolf
R
Probst
D000293:Adolescent; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D012001:Hyperacusis; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014012:Tinnitus