title: A study of the high-frequency hearing thresholds of dentistry professionals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the dentistry practice, dentists are exposed to harmful effects caused by several factors, such as the noise produced by their work instruments. In 1959, the American Dental Association recommended periodical hearing assessments and the use of ear protectors. Aquiring more information regarding dentists', dental nurses', and prosthodontists' hearing abilities is necessary to propose prevention measures and early treatment strategies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the auditory thresholds of dentists, dental nurses, and prosthodontists.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this clinical and experimental study, 44 dentists (Group I; GI), 36 dental nurses (Group II; GII), and 28 prosthodontists (Group III; GIII) were included, , with a total of 108 professionals. The procedures that were performed included a specific interview, ear canal inspection, conventional and high-frequency threshold audiometry, a speech reception threshold test, and an acoustic impedance test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 3 groups that were tested, the comparison between the mean hearing thresholds provided evidence of worsened hearing ability relative to the increase in frequency. For the tritonal mean at 500 to 2,000 Hz and 3,000 to 6,000 Hz, GIII presented the worst thresholds. For the mean of the high frequencies (9,000 and 16,000 Hz), GII presented the worst thresholds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The conventional hearing threshold evaluation did not demonstrate alterations in the 3 groups that were tested; however, the complementary tests such as high-frequency audiometry provided greater efficacy in the early detection of hearing problems, since this population's hearing loss impaired hearing ability at frequencies that are not tested by the conventional tests. Therefore, we emphasize the need of utilizing high-frequency threshold audiometry in the hearing assessment routine in combination with other audiological tests.
authors.affiliation: Doctor. Professor Doctor.
authors.forename: Andréa Cintra
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Master of Human Communication Science by Faculty of Odontology of USP - Bauru, São Paulo. Speech Therapy Clinics of Spazio Fonoaudiológico, Lima - Peru.
authors.forename: Ana Dolores Passarelli
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.affiliation: Master of Human Communication Science by Faculty of Odontology of USP - Bauru, São Paulo. Speech Therapist of AMA - Hearing Aids and CPAP.
authors.forename: Cibele Carmelo
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Santos
keywords: audiometry; dentistry; hearing loss; high-frequency; noise-induced