Audiological evaluation in employees exposed to noise in a public hospital

Purpose to characterize and to compare the hearing of employees of a public hospital exposed to maximum occupational noise levels above and below 85dB(A). Methods this clinical study selected 39 workers of a public hospital, divided according to the level of noise exposure: 20 subjects with maximum exposure levels above 85dB(A) (Group 1) and 19 individuals with maximum exposure levels below 85dB(A) (Group 2). Basic audiological evaluation, transient and distortion product otoacoustic emissions were carried out. Results both groups presented normal hearing thresholds. However, 87.5% in Group 1 and 60.5% in Group 2 showed absent responses in transient evoked otoacoustic emissions, with statistical difference. Group 2 showed higher signal/noise ratios also in distortion product otoacoustic emissions, and only the frequency of 6 kHz was abnormal in both groups. Conclusion sound pressure levels and noise exposure time did not influence in pure tone thresholds. The higher the sound pressure level and the longer the exposure time, more altered the otoacoustic emissions, indicating cochlear dysfunction.