Five-Year Longitudinal Cohort Study Determines the Critical Intervals for Periodic Audiometric Testing Based on 5070 Tests of Metallurgical Workers Exposed and Nonexposed to Noise

Conclusions: The progression of pure-tone averages at 3, 4, and 6 kHz differed between workers exposed and nonexposed to noise. Noise-exposed workers had a significant progressive worsening of audiometric thresholds after 3 years of employment. This study identified, in an unprecedented way, two critical periods of noise exposure: in the first year and after the third year of employment in a noisy environment.
Source: Ear and Hearing - Category: Audiology Tags: Research Article Source Type: research