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Fulltext Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in a Video Editor: A Case Report

Sayapathi BS, Rowther S

Indian J Occup Environ Med, 2022 09 26;26(3):201-203.
PMID: 36408431 DOI: 10.4103/ijoem.ijoem_314_21

The diagnosis of occupational noise-induced hearing loss is rarely made in a video editor, although there is a high prevalence of hearing loss. A 37-year-old woman experienced gradual hearing loss associated with tinnitus for the past 3 years. Audiometry showed mild-to-severe sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear and mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss in the left ear. There is a dip at 2 kHz, which is more pronounced in the right ear with recovery at 8 kHz. The portable listening devices risk causing hearing loss from high-output noise damaging the cochlear structures. The amplitudes on otoacoustic emission levels are decreased by using these devices, especially among long-time users. Incessant tinnitus may cause adverse effects on the quality of life. Sound therapy devices such as digital signal processing devices through hearing aids may assist this group of patients by distracting their attention from tinnitus.
Fulltext Return to Work following Motor Vehicle Accident: A Case Report

Sayapathi BS, Rowther S

Indian J Occup Environ Med, 2023;27(3):271-273.
PMID: 38047178 DOI: 10.4103/ijoem.ijoem_314_22

According to the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), tests of functional capacity evaluation (FCE) have an insignificant relationship with the actual tasks performed and the on-job assessment is required. Commuting accidents have been an increasing trend. A 34-year-old gentleman was referred following severe traumatic brain injury with cerebral edema and multiple fractures. He was evaluated with the Chessington Occupational Therapy Neurological Assessment Battery (COTNAB) where his visual perception performance has improved. The performance of visual and spoken instructions is within normal limits. He has improved on the upper extremity functional scale measure activities with an affected limb from 60 to 68 and also improved on the lower extremity functional scale from 43 to 51. He managed to cover a distance of 2 km in 42 minutes after a short break and accomplished to climb 200 steps after a mini-break through maximum capacity evaluation. The patient is fit as a clerk after going through various sessions to improve the cognition and function of extremities. FCE is precisely measured behavioral tests and should be inferred from the patient's personal and environmental setting.
The effectiveness of applying different permissible exposure limits in preserving the hearing threshold level: a systematic review

Sayapathi BS, Su AT, Koh D

J Occup Health, 2014;56(1):1-11.
PMID: 24270928

OBJECTIVES: A systematic review was conducted to identify the effectiveness of different permissible exposure limits in preserving the hearing threshold level. This review compared the limits of the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health with those of the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The prevalence of occupational noise-induced hearing loss is on an increasing trend globally. This review was performed to reduce the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss.
METHODS: We searched 3 major databases, i.e., PubMed, Embase and Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Journals@Ovid, for studies published up until 1May 2013 without language restrictions. All study designs were included in this review. The studies were identified and retrieved by two independent authors.
RESULTS: Of 118 titles scanned, 14 duplicates were removed, and a total of 13 abstracts from all three databases were identified for full-text retrieval. From the full text, eight articles met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. These articles showed acceptable quality based on our scoring system. Most of the studies indicated that temporary threshold shifts were much lower when subjects were exposed to a noise level of 85 dBA or lower.
CONCLUSIONS: There were more threshold shifts in subjects adopting 90 dBA compared with 85 dBA. These temporary threshold shifts may progress to permanent shifts over time. Action curtailing noise exposure among employees would be taken earlier on adoption of 85 dBA as the permissible exposure limit, and hence prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss may be reduced.
Fulltext The Impact of Different Permissible Exposure Limits on Hearing Threshold Levels Beyond 25 dBA

Sayapathi BS, Su AT, Koh D

Iran Red Crescent Med J, 2014 Oct;16(10):e15520.
PMID: 25763196 DOI: 10.5812/ircmj.15520

BACKGROUND: Development of noise-induced hearing loss is reliant on a few factors such as frequency, intensity, and duration of noise exposure. The occurrence of this occupational malady has doubled from 120 million to 250 million in a decade. Countries such as Malaysia, India, and the US have adopted 90 dBA as the permissible exposure limit. According to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the exposure limit for noise is 90 dBA, while that of the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is 85 dBA for 8 hours of noise exposure.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the development of hearing threshold levels beyond 25 dBA on adoption of 85 dBA as the permissible exposure limit compared to 90 dBA.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is an intervention study done on two automobile factories. There were 203 employees exposed to noise levels beyond the action level. Hearing protection devices were distributed to reduce noise levels to a level between the permissible exposure limit and action level. The permissible exposure limits were 90 and 85 dBA in factories 1 and 2, respectively, while the action levels were 85 and 80 dBA, respectively. The hearing threshold levels of participants were measured at baseline and at first month of postshift exposure of noise. The outcome was measured by a manual audiometer. McNemar and chi-square tests were used in the statistical analysis.
RESULTS: We found that hearing threshold levels of more than 25 dBA has changed significantly from pre-intervention to post-intervention among participants from both factories (3000 Hz for the right ear and 2000 Hz for the left ear). There was a statistically significant association between participants at 3000 Hz on the right ear at 'deteriorated' level ( χ² (1) = 4.08, φ = - 0.142, P = 0.043), whereas there was worsening of hearing threshold beyond 25 dBA among those embraced 90 dBA.
CONCLUSIONS: The adoption of 85 dBA as the permissible exposure limit has preserved hearing threshold level among participants at 3000 Hz compared to those who embraced 90 dBA.