Auditory effects of recreational and occupational noise exposure among dental students: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Purpose: to determine the auditory effects of noise exposure from recreational and occupational sources among dentistry students. Methods: forty-two dentistry students, routinely exposed to occupational noise, and 72 students from other health science schools were recruited (control group). Audiometric testing, otoacoustic emissions and questionnaires to assess recreational and occupational noise were applied to the sample. The presence of a notch was determined for each participant audiometry´s test based on the criteria proposed by Coles et al. Differences in notch prevalence were analyzed by applying univariate regression models as well as a multivariate model adjusted by covariates. Results: non-significant differences in auditory thresholds between groups were found. The controls exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of a notch at 4 kHz than the group exposed to noise. However, the differences were not statistically significant in the multivariate model adjusted by recreational noise exposure. Conclusions: the occupational noise exposure was not significantly associated to auditory system dysfunction. In addition, the differences in notch prevalence could be related to recreational noise exposure.

摘要：本研究旨在探讨牙科学生因娱乐性与职业性噪声暴露所产生的听觉影响。方法：招募42名常规暴露于职业噪声的牙科学生，以及72名来自其他健康科学院校的学生作为对照组。对所有受试者开展听力测听测试（audiometric testing）、耳声发射（otoacoustic emissions）检测，并发放问卷以评估其娱乐性与职业性噪声暴露情况。基于Coles等人提出的判定标准，对每位受试者的听力测试结果判断是否存在听阈切迹。采用单变量回归模型及经协变量校正的多变量回归模型，分析听阈切迹检出率的组间差异。结果：未发现两组受试者的听觉阈值存在显著差异。对照组在4kHz频段的听阈切迹检出率显著高于噪声暴露组，但在校正娱乐性噪声暴露的多变量模型中，该差异无统计学意义。结论：职业性噪声暴露与听觉系统功能障碍无显著关联。此外，听阈切迹检出率的差异或与娱乐性噪声暴露相关。