Hearing loss from noise exposure is an urgent problem of occupational medicine

Abstract

Modern, problematic issues of prevalence, structure and high rates of hearing loss from exposure to industrial noise in the form of clinical stages of chronic sensorineural hearing loss are reflected. The possibility of harmonization of the List of occupational diseases of the ICD 10th and 11th reviews in hearing impairment is discussed

On certain issues related to chronic exposure to occupational noise and impacts exerted by it on workers’ bodies (literature review)

“…But at the same time, there are certain issues at present that do not allow achieving proper quality of medical examinations for workers. When examining working conditions and medical aid provided for workers employed at industrial enterprises and in agriculture many authors mention serious drawbacks in periodical medical examinations (PME) and failure to detect and diagnose occupational diseases (OD) in workers [6][7][8][9][10]. It is often the case that two or three occupational diseases are first diagnosed in a worker during a PME accomplished in an occupational medical center; unfortunately, it usually results in growing disability among such workers [11,12].…”

“…Thus, SHL is the reason for flying crew members not being allowed to work in 85 % cases [23]. Despite prevention activities accomplished at all levels, occupational diseases of the hearing organs caused by exposure to occupational noise still prevail and there is no descending trend in this prevalence [9,[24][25][26][27].…”