Knowledge and Attitude towards the Noise-Induced Hearing Loss of the Workers with Hearing Impairment in the Noisy Workplace

Choi, Hyun Rim; Lee, Won Chul

Abstract

This study was designed to survey the knowledge and attitude towards the noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) of the workers with hearing impairment who are working at the noisy workplaces. The subjects were 423 workers selected from noisy workplaces, where the noise level was 85dB and over, and whose hearing impairment was 30 dB and over at 1,000 Hz or 40 dB and over at 4,000 Hz in the primary screening auditory test. For this study, a questionnaire was applied to the study subjects studying their knowledge and attitude towards the noise-induced hearing loss including their personal characteristics. Only 379 workers completed the questionnaires sincerely except 18 workers who did not show hearing impairment, and they were divided into three groups according to their status of hearing impairment: noise-induced hearing loss (Di), suspected hearing loss (0, hearing loss with medical reasons (D2), for their comparison of their knowledge and attitude towards the noise-indueed hearing loss. The workers who took auditory test at employment were 47.8% and who took auditory test last year after employment were 76.8%. The workers who put on protection device after the; test in 77.1%. The workers did not know the fact that they would work at the noisy workplace in 31.9%. The disturbance of daily communication is significantly different symtom among 3 groups (P<0.01). The workers answered that noise did not affect the body adversely in 4.7% and NIHL was not problem if it did not disturb daily life in 31.9%.In case they were diagnosed as NIHL, 68.6%-of the subjects answeredi-that they would put on protection devices thoroughly and 20.8% answered that they would ask for, medical care. And 39. 3% of them answered that they would want to stay at their present work-places even though they were ordered to change their workplaces to the another less noisy workplaces. The proportion of right answer in the article related NIHL was 61.2% in average. For the protection of NIHL, an effective hearing, conservation. program should be developed and provided to the labor working in the noisy workplace.