title: An observed relationship between vestibular function and auditory thresholds in aircraft-maintenance workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to examine the vestibular function and whether an association exists between vestibular function and hearing thresholds in a group of military aircraft-maintenance workers with exposures to high levels of noise and organic solvents, relative to two different comparison groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vestibular function (using functional reach) and hearing (with pure-tone audiometry) were assessed in 601 exposed personnel, compared with two unexposed groups (500 technical trade and 391 nontrade).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Linear regression model showed that functional reach was slightly better for the comparison groups than the exposed group, with only one group being statistically significant, and there was a significant association between vestibular function and auditory thresholds at 500 and 1000 Hz.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has demonstrated a relationship between low-frequency hearing loss, vestibular dysfunction, anxiety, and depression in an occupational population.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Hunter Building, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. maya.guest@newcastle.edu.au
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guest
authors.forename: May
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boggess
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Este
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Attia
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000401:Aircraft; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents