Audiometric pattern in a group of workers with one ear conductive deafness exposed to continuous noise.

BACKGROUND: It is common to find workers in developing countries having residual ear problems from childhood affections. When exposed to continuous noise in industry, they might exhibit different patterns of audiometric findings. The aim of this study was to examine the good ear in a group of workers exposed to continuous noise in textile industry with a perforated drum in the other ear from childhood otitis media.

METHODS: a 1:2 case control design involving a group of 36 cases and 2 matched groups, same age and duration of exposure was performed. A relevant questionnaire was used and each worker was subjected to an audiometric test.

RESULTS: significantly worse hearing threshold levels at the 250 Hz and the 4 kHz frequencies were obtained for the good ears of cases compared to controls. Subjective complaints were also commoner. A different pattern of hearing loss was found adding to the auditory risk of the involved workers.