title: Hearing Loss in Persons Exposed and not Exposed to Occupational Noise.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to compare hearing loss in individuals at risk and those not at risk for occupational noise and to compare working loss by gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analysis used data from a current Czech Ministry of Health grant project called Epidemiological and Genetic Study of the Frequency of Hearing Loss (2011 to 2015; NT12246-5/2011). The analyzed sample comprised 4988 participants. Hearing was tested using pure-tone threshold audiometry, tympanometry, and measurement of the stapedius reflex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Females at risk and those not at risk for occupational noise who were younger than 44 years and older than 75 years were found to have no statistically significant differences at any pure-tone threshold audiometry frequency. In females aged 45 to 74 years, statistically significant differences were found. In males, hearing loss was observed as early as 18 years of age. When comparing males and females at no risk for occupational noise, there were no statistically significant differences at any of the frequencies in those younger than 29 years. In females aged 30 years or older, statistically significant differences were observed at various frequencies in all age groups. When comparing males and females at risk for occupational noise, statistically significant differences were more frequent than in employees not exposed to noise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hearing loss in females does not significantly vary depending on occupational exposure. The opposite is true for males. However, the maximum differences in mean levels did not exceed 10 dB. It is therefore clear that noise is a preventable factor, and the use of personal protective equipment is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ostrava Faculty of Medicine, Ostrava, Czech Republic. martina.kovalova@osu.cz.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kovalova
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mrazkova
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sachova
authors.forename: Kristyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vojkovska
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tomaskova
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Janoutova
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Janout
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D018153:Czech Republic; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012022:Reflex, Acoustic; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult