Distortion product otoacoustic emissions in an industrial setting

Korres, GS; Balatsouras, DG; Tzagaroulakis, A; Kandiloros, D; Ferekidou, E; Korres, S

dc.contributor.author	Korres, GS	en
dc.contributor.author	Balatsouras, DG	en
dc.contributor.author	Tzagaroulakis, A	en
dc.contributor.author	Kandiloros, D	en
dc.contributor.author	Ferekidou, E	en
dc.contributor.author	Korres, S	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-01T01:58:53Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-01T01:58:53Z
dc.date.issued	2009	en
dc.identifier.issn	1463-1741	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/28765
dc.subject	Distortion product otoacoustic emission	en
dc.subject	hearing monitoring	en
dc.subject	noise exposure	en
dc.subject	occupational noise-induced hearing loss	en
dc.subject	permanent threshold shift	en
dc.title	Distortion product otoacoustic emissions in an industrial setting	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.language	English	en
heal.publicationDate	2009	en
heal.abstract	Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) is an objective sensitive test of cochlear function. The aim of this study was the evaluation of noise-induced hearing loss in a group of industrial workers, using this method in conjunction with standard puretone audiometry (PTA). One hundred and five subjects (210 ears) were included in the study. PTA, tympanometry, and DPOAEs were performed. Results were analyzed using a mixed analysis of variance model, and compared with the data of 34 normal persons of similar age and sex. We found statistically significant lower DPOAE levels in the noise-exposed group than in the control group. Additionally, the effect of frequency was significant, indicating that amplitude varied across frequency, with lower responses observed at 4 and 6 kHz, and maximum response found at 2 kHz. PTA showed a statistically significant effect of Group, owed to elevated puretone thresholds in the noise-exposed subjects, but a Frequency main effect was not found, although the interaction between Frequency and Group was statistically significant, as well as the interaction between Frequency and Ear. A main effect for Ear was found only in puretone thresholds, due to better thresholds in the left ears of the subjects, and not in DPOAE measurements. DPOAE levels were selectively affected at the higher frequencies, whereas puretone thresholds were affected at all frequencies. Direct comparison of the number of significantly affected ears between the two methods at 1, 2, and 4 kHz showed statistically significant differences at all comparisons, with more ears affected in PTA in comparison with DPOAEs at 4 kHz, whereas more ears were affected in DPOAEs at the lower frequencies (1 and 2 kHz). Therefore, it may be concluded that DPOAEs and PTA are both sensitive methods in detecting noise-induced hearing loss, with DPOAEs tending to be more sensitive at lower frequencies.	en
heal.publisher	MEDKNOW PUBLICATIONS	en
heal.journalName	NOISE & HEALTH	en
dc.identifier.isi	ISI:000207820800003	en
dc.identifier.volume	11	en
dc.identifier.issue	43	en
dc.identifier.spage	103	en
dc.identifier.epage	110	en