title: Concurrent effect of noise exposure and smoking on extended high-frequency pure-tone thresholds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Concurrent effect of noise and smoking on hearing loss is a recent concern. In this study, the concurrent effect of noise and smoking on hearing loss in conventional frequencies and frequencies higher than 8 kHz was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study on workers exposed to noise who were divided into two groups: smokers and non-smokers. Hearing thresholds were assessed by conventional audiometry, and HFA. Data were analysed using non-parametric tests and Student's t-test.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 212 workers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-seven subjects were smokers and 115 individuals were non-smokers. All subjects were exposed to 92.1 ± 2.4 dBA (Leq8h). The highest threshold in conventional and high-frequency audiometry was observed at 6 kHz and 16 kHz, respectively. Hearing threshold at frequencies above 1 kHz was significantly higher in the smokers than non-smokers. There was no correlation between hearing thresholds and pack-years of smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concurrent exposure to noise and smoking may be associated with more hearing loss than exposure to noise alone in the conventional and high frequencies. However, other differences between smokers and non-smokers may explain these differences as well.
authors.affiliation: * Occupational Medicine Department and Industrial Diseases Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences , Yazd , Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Houshang
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mehrparvar
authors.forename: Seyed Jalil
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mirmohammadi
authors.forename: Seyed Hesam
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hashemi
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Davari
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mostaghaci
authors.forename: Abolfazl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mollasadeghi
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zare
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Noise; audiometry; high-frequency audiometry; noise-induced hearing loss; smoking