Is there a relevant effect of noise and smoking on hearing? A population-based aging study ¿Existe un efecto relevante del ruido y el tabaquismo en la audición? Un estudio de envejecimiento de base poblacional

Abstract

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate both the respective and combined effects of occupational noise exposure and smoking on hearing, taking age into consideration. The evaluation was conducted using 1478 subjects without a history of ear disease out of a population-based sample of 2267 adults, aged 40 79 years. Pure-tone audiometry and a questionnaire were administered. A deleterious effect of noise exposure on hearing was significantly observed in both genders at many frequencies after adjustment for age, income, and education. The smoking habit alone significantly affected hearing deterioration at 4000 Hz in noise-unexposed males. The combined effect of noise and smoking was not interactive but additive. A dose-response effect of smoking on hearing loss was observed in middle-aged males without noise exposure. Smoking and noise exposure were associated with hearing loss respectively.. This result is noteworthy for the preservation of good hearing especially at the beginning of aging.

Noise Exposure and Hearing Impairment among Chinese Restaurant Workers and Entertainment Employees in Hong Kong

“…However, no association was found in the Framingham study [26]. Another two studies found a dosage effect of smoking on hearing loss [27], [28], and an interaction between smoking and occupational noise was also reported [29], [30]. We need to point out that our results show that kitchen worker and cook, who are generally with higher exposure level, were associated with lower risk of NIHL.…”

Hearing status among cabin crew in a Swedish commercial airline company

“…Noiseinduced hearing loss may have implications for safety onboard commercial aircraft. In addition to ageing, which is the major factor for hearing loss, occupational noise (Lusk 1997), genetic heredity, head injury, infection, certain drugs, high blood pressure (Correa Filho et al 2002) and tobacco smoking (Uchida et al 2005) are other risk factors. Moreover, exposure to shooting and other impulse noise during leisure time may also cause hearing loss (Nondahl et al 2000).…”

Occupational Noise, Smoking, and a High Body Mass Index are Risk Factors for Age-related Hearing Impairment and Moderate Alcohol Consumption is Protective: A European Population-based Multicenter Study

“…Rosenhall et al (1993) found an association between hearing levels and smoking; Cruickshanks et al (1998) and Uchida et al (2005) found indications of a dosage effect. On the other hand, no association was found in the Framingham cohort (Gates et al 1993).…”