Hearing risk in motorcycle taxi drivers of a Southern Brazilian city

ABSTRACT Objective: to characterize the hearing profile of motorcycle taxi drivers and analyze the risk of their exposure to noise. Methods: a cross-sectional study with 17 motorcycle taxi drivers of a city on the Southern coast of Brazil, in 2008. Noise was measured at workplace and during a standard route. The dose of exposure to noise was calculated, a questionnaire on the perception of auditory and extra-auditory effects was applied and an auditory hearing assessment through threshold tonal audiometry was performed. Results: at workplace, noise was around 73dBA (decibels, A scale), and while commuting, noise was above 100% for a 12-hour working day. Strain and stress/fatigue after work were reported by 58.8% of the subjects and 52.9% of them showed hearing losses, five presenting characteristic noise-induced hearing losses (NIHL). However, the motorcycle taxi drivers did not associate the adverse health effects to the continuous exposure to noise. Conclusion: the motorcycle taxi drivers presented hearing risk, 29% of them presenting hearing alterations with characteristics suggestive of noise-induced hearing loss, which makes the implementation of auditory conservation programs of extremely importance for this class of workers.