جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « audiometry » در نشریات گروه « پزشکی »

Impact/impulse and continuous noise are two main causes of noise‑induced hearing loss (NIHL) in workplaces. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of impulse/impact noise and continuous noise on hearing status.

In this study, 259 workers referred to the occupational medicine clinic of Shahid Rahnemoun hospital, Yazd, Iran, entered the study and were divided into two groups: with exposure to impact/impulse noise and with exposure to continuous noise. Hearing thresholds were measured and compared between the two groups by pure‑tone audiometry (PTA). The frequency of hearing loss and audiometric notch according to the results of PTA was compared between the two groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS (ver. 16) using Student’s t‑test, Chi‑square test, and Mann–Whitney U test.

Hearing thresholds were significantly higher at all frequencies in the impact noise group. The hearing threshold at 6000 Hz was higher than other frequencies in both groups. The frequency of hearing loss at high frequencies was higher in the impact group. The frequency of audiometric notch was not significantly different between the two groups.

The results of this study showed that hearing loss after exposure to impact/impulse noise is probably more frequent and more severe than exposure to continuous noise, but the pattern of hearing loss is similar in both types of noise exposure.

Approximately 466 million people suffer from hearing loss worldwide, with Indonesia ranking fourth in Southeast Asia. However, conventional pure-tone audiometry is not yet available in many areas because of its high cost. Numerous available smartphone-based audiometry applications are potential alternative screening tools for hearing loss, especially in Indonesia. This study examined the findings on the validation of smartphone-based audiometry applications to assess hearing functions available in Indonesia. 

Based on the established eligibility criteria, this study was conducted by browsing the relevant literature validating smartphone-based audiometry applications in Indonesia. Relevant study data, such as the author, year, location, implementation procedures, and outcomes, were extracted and summarized. 

This systematic review found 17 relevant and eligible publications. Of the six applications tested, 5 were found to have good validity, such as uHearTM, Audiogram MobileTM, AudCalTM, Hearing TestTM e-audiologia, and WuliraTM. All smartphone-based audiometry was tested only for the air conduction threshold and was influenced by several factors. 

Because smartphone-based audiometry is inexpensive, simple, and more accessible than conventional audiometric testing, it can be useful as a screening modality or alternative approach to assess hearing function. Unfortunately, smartphone-based audiometry cannot replace conventional audiometry in diagnosing hearing impairment.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) in elementary school students in Kerman, Iran, during 2018-2019.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1369 elementary school students in Kerman. These students were selected by cluster sampling from different areas of Kerman and then screened using the Buffalo Model Questionnaire (BMQ). Based on the data obtained from the questionnaire, normal children were excluded from the study. Then, children with suspected central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) underwent ear exams and were excluded from the study in case of abnormal results in the tympanic membrane examination (raptureeffusion). The remaining subjects underwent peripheral audiometry evaluation, and children with abnormal audiometry were excluded from the study. Finally, the remaining children with suspicious screening results, a normal examination, and normal audiometry underwent a specific test to detect Central auditory processing disorder. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS software.

One thousand three hundred sixty-nine primary school students with a mean age of 9.15 ±2.63 years enrolled in this study. 52%% of students were male. 8.03% of them had CAPD. A statistically significant relationship was found between the prevalence of CAPD and gender (P<0.001), place of residence (P<0.001), history of middle ear inflammation (P<0.001) and history of head injury.

The quality of life of these students with CAPD can be improved via timely recognition of CAPD and the provision of appropriate preventive and therapeutic facilities

Several viral infections may lead to hearing loss. It›s still unknown whether COVID-19 has effects on the auditory system or not. In this regard, to evaluate the possibility of sudden sensorineural hearing loss due to COVID-19, this study aimed to report sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in patients with COVID-19 in Iran.

Case Report:

 The patient was a 7-year-old girl diagnosed with COVID-19 and sensorineural hearing loss. An audiogram revealed normal hearing in the right ear and severe sensorineural hearing loss in the left ear. The tympanometry test result was bilateral type A. The treatment started with prednisolone (1 mg/kg/d). The audiogram of follow-up pure-tone audiometry did not reveal any improvement.

SSNHL appears to be a possible complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. COVID-19 infection could have deleterious effects on cochlear hair cells and eight nerve functions. Therefore, audiological monitoring should be initiated in patients presenting with COVID-19.

Musical training has been hypothesised to result in enhanced Speech Perception in Noise (SPIN) abilities, but prolonged exposure to music also increases the risk for Music-Induced Hearing Loss (MIHL). The Signal-to-Noise Ratios (SNR) and the Extended High Frequency (EHF) thresholds between formally trained musicians and nonmusicians were compared to determine the effect of musical training on musicians’ SPIN and hearing abilities.

This cross-sectional study included 40 musicians and 39 non-musicians 18–30 years, with mean age (SD) 22.43(2.71) years. EHF audiometry and the Digits-in-Noise (DIN) test were conducted via a smartphone.

Differences found between the two groups regarding the DIN test and EHF thresholds were statistically insignificant. Musicians displayed early signs of MIHL as the musicians reported significantly more (p=0.004) instances of tinnitus than non-musicians. A statistically significant correlation was found only for the non-musician group between the 12.5 kHz threshold left and the SNR obtained in the diotic listening condition (rs=-0.465; p=0.003).

The results suggested that musicians did not display a significant advantage for SPIN and did not appear to have significantly poorer EHF hearing sensitivity. However, slight trends were noticeable in the musicians which gravitated more towards studies that found enhanced SPIN abilities and elevated EHF thresholds in the musician population. In the future, it may be useful to include additional speech tests (open-set) alongside the DIN test (closed-set). The present study suggests that EHF audiometry may be used for the early detection of MIHL.

The our aim was to research the occurrence of hearing loss associated with the effect of hypoxemia on inner ear structures owing to sleep apnea syndrome and to designate the timely signs of cochlear injury.
Participants diagnosed with probable sleep-disordered breathing among 63 patients, who experienced polysomnographic examination, were unexcluded in the present study. Control and study groups were structured in four groups pursuant to the apnea-hypopnea index and an intergroup comparison of audiometric parameters was performed. Accordingly, the apnea-hypopnea index, speech discrimination scores, speech recognition thresholds, and pure tone thresholds were compared.
A comparison of the obstructive sleep apnea groups by the degree of hearing loss indicated that there were significant differences by the average pure tone audiometry, average speech recognition thresholds, and average speech discrimination scores in both ears between the four groups (p<0.001).
The results of the study proposed that intermittent hypoxemia due to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome might have adverse effects on both the speech discrimination and hearing.

Different factors in the workplace may create potential health risks for workers. Noise is one of these factors and it is considered as a concern through the world. The aim of this study is to provide information on the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among cement factory workers.

In this descriptive-analytical study, 283 workers were randomly selected from different production units in a cement factory. Equivalent Sound Level (Leq) was measured by using a Casella CEL-320 ‎ dosimeter and Sound Pressure Level (SPL) was measured by using a TES-1358 sound level meter (SLM) (sn: 090717269), with high accuracy. Audiometric tests were conducted by using an AVA C88 audiometer. Hearing Threshold Levels (HTLs) were calculated at different frequencies for both ears. Collected data were analyzed by using SPSS.16 software and statistical tests.

About 55 percent of the participants suffered from some levels of hearing-loss at the frequency range of 4- 8 KHZ. There was a significant difference between the mean HTLs ‎ of left and right ear at most frequencies. The highest mean of sound pressure level (SPL) was measured in crusher unit and the lowest mean occurred in bag-filling unit.

Occupational exposure to noise has the potential to cause hearing loss in cement factory workers. Therefore, it is necessary to perform effective measures to prevent the prevalence of hearing loss in units with high exposure risks.

 Hearing thresholds at 3000 Hz are generally not measured in routine clinical audiometry. However, for purposes other than clinical diagnosis, the threshold at 3 kHz has many applications, in epidemiological studies in the field of occupational health and medicine, as well as in (medicolegal) quantification of physical impairment due to hearing loss, particularly noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The present study addressed the validity of estimating, in the case of NIHL, the 3 kHz-audiometric thresholds by averaging the thresholds at 2 and 4 kHz. 

 All 200 investigated subjects (400 ears) had a well-documented noise exposure, moderate to severe NIHL, and underwent, as they were claiming for compensation, a detailed medicolegal audiological investigation, including beside pure tone audiometry, electrophysiological objective frequency-specific threshold definition using cortical evoked response audiometry (CERA) and auditory steady-state response (ASSR).

The study results showed a good correlation between the 2-4 kHz interpolation and the actual 3 kHz threshold; the error may be around 2 dB on average. However, in individual cases, the results demonstrated that the error due to interpolation exceeds 5 dB HL in about one-quarter of the cases. This error is predictable; the larger the 2- 4 KHz difference (which reflects the steepness of the left slope of the audiometric notch), the larger the error (on either side) made by interpolating.

For epidemiological studies with large amounts of data, the interpolated threshold (average of 2 and 4 KHz) may be considered as a valid estimate of the true value of the 3 KHz threshold. More caution is required in individual cases: the error due to interpolation exceeds 5 dB HL in about one-quarter of the cases, but this error is predictable.

Since the discovery of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which started in Wuhan, China, the epidemic has not only swept through China but also spread throughout the world in spite of the concerted attempts from the governments to contain it. Thus, prevention and control of COVID-19 infection is very effective in ensuring the safety of medical specialists, health care workers, and patients. Audiology clinics are also crucial in the fight against the infection epidemic, as audiologists provide their diagnostic and rehabilitative services in an environment with different contaminated objects that come in either direct or indirect contact with multiple patients. The current article explains the importance of infection control in audiology and priority setting for audiologic evaluation in COVID-19 pandemic.

Unwanted sound is recognized as the most extensive source of contaminant in the workplace. Exposure to intense, continuous, and higher than 85 dB level noise can lead to noise‑induced hearing loss.The aim of the present study was to determine the level of noise exposure and its impact on hearing health among auto body workers.

This descriptive‑analytic study was conducted in 2020 to investigate the hearing health status of workers in auto body workshops. Sixty‑one participants were randomly selected for audiometric testing. The equivalent sound level (Leq) of the workers was measured using a Casella CEL‑320 noise dosimeter. Audiometric testing was performed using an AC40 audiometer. The mean hearing threshold levels (HTLs) of both ears were calculated for different frequencies. The results obtained were analyzed using SPSS v21.0 at a significance level of 95%.

The participants had an average age of 35.5 ± 11.8 years and an average work experience of 16.5 ± 9.8 years. The mean Leq was 92.3 ± 4.7 dB. The mean HTLs for the right ear and left ear were 20, 15, 17.6, 19.2 dB, respectively with the right ear suffering more loss. A significant relationship was found between hearing loss in both ears (P < 0.001). The highest prevalence of hearing loss in both ears was observed at a frequency of 4 kHz. About 73.8% of the subjects had a normal HTL, 23.3% had mild hearing loss, and 3.3% had severe hearing loss. With increasing work experience, HTLs also increased significantly, particularly at 2–8 kHz.

Chronic exposure to noise pollution threatens hearing health. Therefore, it is necessary to raise the level of awareness among workers in order to enable better hearing health protection and also to promote the use of hearing protection devices.

Previous studies showed that one of the complications of rheumatoid arthritis disease was auditory disorder. The goal of the present study was to compare the auditory status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy individuals.

In the present case-control study, 30 normal persons and 60 persons with rheumatoid arthritis with mean age of 46.72 and standard deviation of 6.76 of both genders were appraised using pure tone audiometry, tympanometry and speech audiometry. The mean disease duration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was 12.51±6.09 years.

The frequency of hearing loss in rheumatoid arthritis group was significantly more than the control group (p=0.001). All patients had sensorineural hearing loss. Only in 5% of rheumatoid arthritis group, abnormal tympanometry (as type) was reported. Speech discrimination score analysis showed significant difference between the patients with rheumatoid arthritis and controls. In terms of hearing threshold level, the mean hearing threshold level (in 2000, 4000 and 8000 Hz frequencies) of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis was significantly higher than control group in both ears (p<0.05). A positive significant correlation was found among mean hearing threshold level in 4000 and 8000 Hz frequencies and rheumatoid arthritis duration in both ears.

The frequency of hearing loss and the average hearing threshold in RA patients were higher than healthy individuals. The most common type hearing loss is sensorineural.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a debilitating and irreversible disease and one of the ten most important occupational diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between individual risk factors and NIHL in textile workers.
This cross-sectional study was carried out on 128 employees of one of the textile factories of Tehran Province in 2017. At first, data were collected using a demographic questionnaire including age, marital status, level of education, and work shift. Then, using an audiometer, the worker's threshold of hearing was measured in both ears for frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz, and data were analyzed by the SPSS version 18.
The mean age of the workers was 30.59 ( 3.5) years, their mean work experience 5.7 (2.76) years, and the mean environmental noise level at work 87.88 ( 6.13) dB. The findings showed that there was a significant relationship between the level of exposed noise and age, education level, work shift, and marital status.
Increased age of population and level of environmental noise are two factors for increased hearing loss, which can be partly prevented by using engineering approaches such as using mufflers and silent rooms.

Acute hearing loss due to noise and hearing impairment is one of the most common occupational diseases which imposes significant direct and indirect costs on the government and exposed individuals. The steel industry is one of the industries that a great deal of noise is produced in different parts of its working process. Therefore, in this research, we tried to investigate the relationship between noise exposure and permanent hearing loss due to noise, as well as hearing impairment among employees of rebar production unit in Kerman Steel Industries.
In this descriptive-analytic study, two methods of bioassay and environmental monitoring were used. In bioassay method, seventy one workers of the production line audiology condition, which was selected by census method, were tested and in the environmental monitoring, sound state of the production sector was measured and evaluated. Also, using a questionnaire, their personal information and work experience were recorded.
From the 71 workers surveyed, 20% were between 25-30 year old, 70% aged 30-40 years old, 10% were more than 40 years old, 63% had a work experience of 1-5 years and 37% had work experience more than 5 years. Comparison of the sound pressure level with the permissible national standard states showed that in 93% of the measured points, the sound pressure level was higher than standard, and the results of the audiometric data showed that in 55% of individuals, the hearing threshold in the right ear at a frequency of 4000 Hz has risen above 25 dB, and this value is 46% for the left ear.
Considering that the increase in hearing thresholds at 4000 Hz is the main symptom of hearing loss due to working in industrial environments, we can conclude that taking control measures is very necessary. The percentage of auditory hearing impairment in the left, right and both ears is less than 10% and this can be attributed to the worker's work experience.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an important otological emergency. Up to 90% of the cases are idiopathic. Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an extremely rare identifiable cause as it only represents 0.5% of all strokes.
Case Report: In this paper, an unusual case of bilateral SSNHL secondary to bilateral CVT with rapid and complete recovery is reported. The patient presented with sudden bilateral hearing loss associated with some neurological symptoms. Initial computed tomography (CT) venography revealed a CVT of bilateral transverse sinuses. The patient was started on an anticoagulant and imaging was repeated after five days, revealing the absence of the thrombosis. Serial pure tone audiometry (PTA) showed complete recovery of bilateral hearing within 10 days.
Early detection and intervention may fasten hearing recovery and improve the quality of life. The immediate restoration of venous blood flow and intracranial pressure may lead to the complete recovery of bilateral hearing loss.