A retrospective study of noise induced hearing loss in a tertiary care hospital of Jharkhand - an alarming but ignorant truth

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is hearing impairment resulting from exposure to loud sound. People may have a loss of perception of a narrow range of frequencies, impaired cognitive perception of sound, or other impairment, including sensitivity to sound or ringing in the ears. NIHL is 2<sup>nd</sup> most common cause of hearing loss, next to presbycusis. Most of the population of developing countries is ignorant of the hazards of excessive noise exposure. 1) To describe the socio-demograpic profile of patients in the young age group (18-35 years) with noise induced hearing loss in Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi during June 2015- November 2016. 2) To study the major presenting complaints. 3) To categorize the patients on the basis of degree of hearing loss.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Data for study was collected from RIMS Out Patient Department (OPD) register during period June 2015 – November 2016 (18 months).Total sample size for this period was 50. Templates were generated in MS excel sheet and data analysis was done using SPSS software (version 20). </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Study showed NIHL was more common in urban (82%) and male (72%) population. More than half (54%) patients presented with hearing loss and 24% with tinnitus. Most of the patients had bilateral mild hearing loss (70%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> NIHL is more common in urban males, mostly in age group (26-35 years). More than 2/3<sup>rd</sup> (68% ) of patients had history of exposure to loud noise. </p>

The noise profile and hearing impact of commercial fiberglass reinforced plastic speed boats in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

“…The risks of hearing loss due to noise exposure were quite common; as a result, over 42.07% of the employees examined in our study had abnormal audiograms. Mild hearing loss was the most commonly reported NIHL, 20 which is consistent with our findings. In contrast to the findings of this study, Bhatt and Guthrie reported that 55.6% of their study sample had a 4-6 kHz notch in at least one ear.…”

“…According to some surveys, age, gender, and noise exposure, all have a significant impact on audiometric notches. 19,20 Our findings revealed a substantial relationship between age and experience and the bilateral moderate 4 kHz notch. This revealed that NIHL is a symptom or feature of the 4 kHz notch, namely, the bilateral notch (NMo).…”

Noise-induced Hearing Loss among Patients Requiring Pure Tone Audiometry Evaluation in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

“…In a study conducted in a hospital setting in Northern India, 54% complained solely of hearing loss, while the other half complained of tinnitus and hearing loss. 15 In the same study, NIHL binaural involvement was observed in 74%, which is similar to our study, 78.57%. In a police survey, only 61.64% had a binaural association, which is lower than our study.…”