title: Pure tone audiometry with and without specific ear protectors.
abstract: The authors evaluated pure tone audiometry with and without specific ear protectors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this case control study was to measure the level of sound attenuation by earplugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The evaluation included sixty ears of 30 subjects of both sexes, aged between 20 and 58 years, of various professional activities, with normal hearing thresholds, and following ten hours of auditory rest. The statistical results of pure tone audiometry at 500 to 4000 Hertz with and without specific ear protectors were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These results were compared with those provided by the ear protector manufacturer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that the rate of sound reduction was similar to the manufacturer's specifications.
authors.affiliation: IAMSPE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Antonio
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rodrigues de Faria
authors.forename: Fabio Akira
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000379:methods*; D004430:Ear Protective Devices / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012016:Reference Values