Perfil audiológico de pilotos agrícolas

Abstract

Introduction:The agricultural airplane pilot are daily exposed to intense noises, being susceptible to the noiseinduced hearing loss (NIHL) and its auditory and extra auditory effects. Objective:To analyze the audiological profile of this population, verifying the work's influence on its hearing. Method:It was realized a retrospective, individual, observational, and cross-sectional study through the data obtained by means of a questionnaire and audiometric thresholds of 41 agricultural pilots. To the statistical analysis were utilized the chi-square, Spearman, and Wilcoxon tests with significance level of 5%. Results:It was verified that 95,1% of the pilots use PPE ( personal protective equipment) during flight and 58,5% have contact with pesticides. More than half of individuals referred to feel auditory and extra auditory symptoms, being the buzz the more frequent (29,1%). It has the occurrence of 29,3% of NIHL suggestive hearing loss and 68,3% of normality, taking this presence of unilateral notch in 24,4% and bilateral notch in 31,7%. It was found correlation statistically significant in the associations between time of service and the average of the acute frequencies in the right ear (p=0038), and in the left ear (p=0,010). It has a statistical tendency in the association between audiometric configuration and contact with pesticides (p=0,088). Conclusion:The hearing loss prevalence in this study was showed high. More than half of the sample has normal audiometric thresholds with notch configuration. Such data lead to the conclusion that the agricultural pilots, even with PPE use, they still suffer with the damages caused by noise, needing best proposals of hearing loss prevention. RESUMO Introdução:Os pilotos de aviões agrícolas estão diariamente expostos a ruídos intensos, estando suscetíveis à Perda Auditiva Induzida pelo Ruído (PAIR) e seus efeitos auditivos e extra-auditivos. Objetivo:Analisar o perfil audiológico desta população, verificando a influência do trabalho sobre sua audição. Método:Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo, de corte transversal, individual e observacional, através de dados obtidos por meio de questionário e audiometria tonal liminar de 41 pilotos agrícolas. Para a análise estatística foram utilizados os testes Qui-quadrado, Spearman e Wilcoxon, com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados:Verificou-se que 95,1% dos pilotos usam EPI durante os vôos e 58,5% possuem contato com agrotóxicos. Mais da metade dos indivíduos referiram ter sintomas auditivos e extra-auditivos, sendo o zumbido o mais frequente (29,1%). Houve a ocorrência de 29,3% de perda auditiva sugestiva de PAIR e 68,3% de normalidade, tendo, esta, presença de entalhe unilateral em 24,4% e entalhe bilateral em 31,7%. Foi encontrada correlação estatisticamente significativa nas associações entre tempo de serviço e a média das frequências agudas na orelha direita (p=0038) e na orelha esquerda (p=0,010). Houve tendência estatística na associação entre configuração audiométrica e contato com agrotóxicos (p=0,088). Conclusão:...

Audição em altas frequências em trabalhadores rurais expostos a agrotóxicos

“…Estudos revelaram os benefícios do uso da AAF no diagnóstico da perda auditiva associada a agentes físicos e químicos [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] e pesquisas sinalizam para a possibilidade do efeito ototóxico dos agrotóxicos 6,23,28,29,31,[37][38][39][40][41] , entretanto nenhum trabalho relacionando, exclusivamente, a exposição aos agrotóxicos e a realização de AAF foi encontrado.…”

Audiometric profile of civilian pilots according to noise exposure

“…In addition, 29.3% pilots had suspected NIHL, which is a significant number, as corroborated by Harger & Barbosa-Branco 7 (2004), Silva et al 11 (2004), Gerostergiou et al 6 (2008), and Foltz et al 4 (2010). In contrast, Lindgren et al 8 (2009) found no indication that the cabin crew of a Swedish commercial airline company had increased rates of hearing loss compared with a population of the same country not exposed to noise, despite the relative exposure to high noise levels.…”

“…Gerostergiou et al 6 (2008) conducted a study involving 15 pilots of the Larissa Aeroclub in Greece and observed that 30.0% pilots experienced hearing impairments suggestive of NIHL. A retrospective, observational, and cross-sectional study evaluated 41 agricultural pilots 4 and reported a high prevalence of hearing loss, although > 50.0% pilots had normal hearing threshold levels with slot configuration. Agricultural pilots, even wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) (95.1% made use of PPE during flight), suffer hearing impairments caused by noise and lack better alternatives for the prevention of hearing loss.…”

Autopercepção de dificuldade auditiva, hábitos e fatores de risco para perda auditiva em agricultores

“…These findings are important but were not confirmed in this research. The reason may be the hearing health mantainence depends on set of factors as the quantity and the frequency of pesticides exposition, the concurrent operating noise equipment, and the lack of individual protection 4,8,[23][24][25] ; in the current research, most subjects operated noise equipment at work, handled pesticides, and used individual protection device (Table 3). These findings are different from other studies 5,10 of the same theme, because most farmers reported not using the protection device for several reasons, as: financial issues to acquire the individual protection device, troubles using it due to warmth, discomfort and lack of habit to use it 10,23 .…”