Hearing Loss and Related Influencing Factors in Workers Exposed to Noise in Hangzhou

Objective To assess high frequency hearing loss and related influencing factors in noise exposed workers in Hangzhou.

Methods A cross-sectional epidemiological study design was used in the study. A total of 1 371 male workers from 16 enterprises with noise exposure were enrolled to conduct a questionnaire survey and a pure-tone hearing test in 2014. Chisquare test was used for comparing differences in demographic characteristics, enterprise prevention programs, hearing protection awareness, and working and living behaviors related to hearing of workers categorized by high frequency hearing loss status; then logistic regression analysis was conducted for variables selected by single factor analysis.

Results The prevalence rate of hearing loss at high frequency of workers in Hangzhou was 61.4%. The risk factors for hearing loss at high frequency included longer length of service (OR=1.325, P=0.000), low education level (OR=2.065, P=0.000), wearing headphones to listen to music (OR=1.281, P=0.000), making long hours of phone calls (OR=1.16, P=0.018), and late sleep time (OR=1.481, P=0.000); while the protection factors included enterprises distributing personal protection equipment (OR=0.685, P=0.041) and workers' awareness of noise impact on hearing (OR=0.619, P=0.021).

Conclusion A high prevalence rate of hearing loss at high frequency is identified in the noise exposed workers in Hangzhou, to which many factors may contribute. Therefore, active prevention measures should be taken by both enterprises and workers.