Chronic Noise Affects Middle Ear Resonance and Absorbance in Industrial Workers

• Published in: Journal of International Advanced Otology 2022-11, Vol.18 (6), p.530-536
• Main Authors: Yilmaz, Nihat, Soylemez, Emre, Soylemez, Tugce, Sanuc, Merve Betul, Yilmaz, Orhan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acoustics; Eardrum; Ears & hearing; Hearing loss; Metal workers; Otolaryngology; Statistical analysis; Workers
• ISSN: 1308-7649; 2148-3817
• DOI: 10.5152/iao.2022.21579

BACKGROUND: The effect of chronic noise on the middle ear is not fully known. This study aimed to evaluate the middle ear functions of metal workers exposed to chronic noise using wideband tympanometry. METHODS: In this study, 62 male workers exposed to chronic noise and 30 healthy men were included. Workers exposed to chronic noise were divided into 2 groups according to their pure tone averages. Totally 30 workers (60 ears) with pure tone average less than 20 dB were included in group I, and 32 workers (64 ears) with pure tone average more than 20 dB were included in group II. All individuals were subjected to wideband tympanometry. Tympanometric peak pressure, equivalent ear canal volume, static acoustic admittance, resonance frequency, and absorbance ratios at peak pressure and ambient pressure values were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no difference between the groups in terms of traditional tympanometric parameters such as tympanometric peak pressure, equivalent ear canal volume, and static acoustic admittance (P >.05). Resonance frequency of workers exposed to chronic noise (group I and group II) was lower than the control group (P