title: Status of Hearing Loss and Its Related Factors among Drivers in Zahedan, South-Eastern Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate loss of hearing among drivers in Zahedan, southeastern Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study carried out on a total of 1836 drivers in Zahedan in 2013. Loss of hearing in both ears was measured at 250, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hertz. The demographic variables, blood parameter and anthropometric data were recorded through interview and examinations. Data were analyzed in Stata.12 software using paired t-tests, McNemar test and Multiple Logistic Regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 38.2±9.8 years. The highest mean hearing thresholds in the right and left ears were 25.7±9.1 and 27.7±9.1, respectively at 250 Hz. There was significant difference between left and right ears hearing threshold at all frequencies (P<0.001), and the highest difference occurred at 250 Hz. Hearing threshold in the left ear was greater than in the right ear at all frequencies. Hearing threshold was correlated to marital status, type of license, and vehicle, smoking, age, and driving history at all frequencies (P<0.01), and also significantly correlated to blood sugar and cholesterol levels at 250 and 500 Hz in both left and right ears (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, high levels of noise increase hearing threshold with greatest damage to the left ear. Therefore, drivers should be periodically examined for ear damage in accordance to variables affecting loss of hearing. Moreover, drivers must be educated about usage of appropriate ear-plugs during driving, especially for the left ear.
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, IR Iran.. ansarih88@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ansari-Moghaddam
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.forename: Sayed Mehdi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tabatabaei
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fazli
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pishevare-Mofrad