Effect of Duration of Noise Exposure on Auditory Impairment in the Population of Bangalore City
1327-1330
Correspondence
Irshad Ahamed KS
C/O Mohammed Khasim, Ward No – 22,
House No -212, Opp. Akshaya General Stores, J.P. Nagar,
Hospet – 583201 (post), Bellary (dist), Karnataka (State), India.
Phone No : +91-9902951526
E mail : irshadahameddr@gmail.com
Background and Objectives: Noise pollution in an urban city like Bangalore is a serious problem and is steadily increasing over the years. The relationship between duration of noise exposure and hearing loss in normal subjects residing in an urban city like Bangalore is yet to be investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between duration of noise exposure and degree of auditory impairment in a crosssectional population of Bangalore city.
Methods: 219 normal subjects residing in noisy roads in four geographical areas belonged to the research group were subjected to a pure tone audiometric assessment. The resulting data was statistically analyzed with SPSS software.
Results: The auditory threshold (degree of hearing impairment) was very high in subjects which exposed to noise for more than 15 years than the subjects who were exposed to noise below 15 years at the frequencies 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000 and 8000 Hz in both ears.
Conclusion: The duration of exposure to noise had a direct effect on degree of hearing impairment in subjects of noisy areas. Subjects residing in noisy areas have an increased risk of noise induced hearing loss.