Noise and the risk of deafness

The impact of noise in the process of professional labor on hearing was discovered and recorded right from the middle ages. According to statistics of the International Anti-Noise Association (AICB), in industrialized countries, there are 1 / 4-1 / 3 of workers working in noise environment.

(Photo: city.yokohama)

Career deafness from the bottom of the list of occupational diseases has always been at the forefront and has an increasing trend.

Occupational deafness is a type of permanent damage , never recovering even when no noise is heard because the noise impacts the changes in the inner ear, concentrating on corti with injury of the hearing cell. Therefore, the prevention of professional deafness for workers is always set and the people working in the noise environment themselves must understand to protect themselves.

Noise is described as unwanted sounds, causing harmful effects on human health and life. Noise causes deafness is often high frequency noise, high intensity, combined with vibration with extended working time, specifically: noise intensity above 90dB, working time from 6-8 days hours within 3-6 months. The disease is common in workers working in shipyards, textile factories, tank troops, armored vehicles .

Occupational deafness is a progressive, worsening disease with the main symptom of hearing loss in both ears equally or equally. Early manifestations are often seen in patients who work in noise environments, the first few weeks or months appear systemic fatigue, ie in the ears, tinnitus, hearing loss at the end or after the TB period Dynamic, these symptoms completely lose if rested.

This latent period lasts for several years, due to poor hearing at the beginning only at high frequencies, the frequency of living is normal so it does not affect living and the patient does not pay attention. In the later stage, deaf people have become aware of their disease when hearing loss is markedly impaired, communication is difficult with tinnitus.

Prevention

People use many technical measures such as reducing noise from the place of generation or isolating sources of noise through the manufacture and layout of reasonable machines. Workers need to use anti-noise tools such as earplugs, earplugs or ear caps. Medical measures: periodically check hearing every 6 months to 1 year for people who work in a place with noise. Arranging working hours for workers in a noise environment must be alternating, changing, avoiding time of exposure to prolonged noise.