MyJournals Home  

RSS FeedsIJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 3958: Tinnitus and Self-Perceived Hearing Handicap in Firefighters: A Cross-Sectional Study (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health)

 
 

18 october 2019 01:04:58

 
IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 3958: Tinnitus and Self-Perceived Hearing Handicap in Firefighters: A Cross-Sectional Study (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health)
 


Firefighters are susceptible to auditory dysfunction due to long-term exposure to noise from sirens, air horns, equipment, and tools used in forcible item, ventilation, and extrication. In addition, they are exposed to ototoxic chemicals, particularly, during overhaul operations. Studies indicate that 40% of firefighters have hearing loss in the noise-sensitive frequencies of 4 and 6 kHz. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is often accompanied by tinnitus, which is characterized by ringing noise in the ears. The presence of phantom sounds can adversely affect the performance of firefighters. However, there has been limited research conducted on the prevalence of tinnitus in firefighters. We enrolled firefighters from Michigan, with at least 5 years of continuous service. The hearing handicap inventory for adults (HHIA) was used to determine the difficulty in hearing perceived by the firefighters and the tinnitus functional index (TFI) was used to determine the severity of tinnitus. Self-perceived hearing handicap was reported by 36% of the participants, while tinnitus was reported by 48% of the participants. The TFI survey indicated that 31% perceived tinnitus as a problem. More importantly, self-perceived hearing handicap was significantly associated with the incidence of tinnitus in firefighters, suggesting a potential link between occupational exposure to ototraumatic agents and tinnitus in firefighters.


 
186 viewsCategory: Medicine, Pathology, Toxicology
 
IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 3959: Future Heat Waves in Different European Capitals Based on Climate Change Indicators (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health)
IJERPH, Vol. 16, Pages 3957: Copper Analysis by Two Different Procedures of Sequential Extraction after Electrodialytic Remediation of Mine Tailings (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health)
 
 
blog comments powered by Disqus


MyJournals.org
The latest issues of all your favorite science journals on one page

Username:
Password:

Register | Retrieve

Search:

Toxicology


Copyright © 2008 - 2024 Indigonet Services B.V.. Contact: Tim Hulsen. Read here our privacy notice.
Other websites of Indigonet Services B.V.: Nieuws Vacatures News Tweets Nachrichten