• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.3 s.51
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• pp.651-662
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• 1995

In Korea there is no specific method of age adjustment in noise induced hearing loss(NIHL). We attempted the age adjustment to understand the effects of age on the diagnosis of NIHL. We used the International Standard Organization 1999 as an age adjustment method. We used the 1, 617 otologically normal person's hearing data from a health examination center, and 206 workers diagnosed as NIHL. We concluded as follows; 1. The ISO 7029 function used for age specific hearing loss is not suited to Korean people. 2. The mean of age specific hearing loss is 11.0 6.2dB and the older of age, the more decrease on hearing loss, especially in 4000Hz. 3. The difference of NIHL between before age adjustment and after age adjustment in the 3rd decade is 5.4dB, in the 4th decade is 6.7dB, in the 5th decade is 8.5dB, in the 6th decade is 10.4dB, and in the 7th decade is 12.9dB. The older, the more is the difference. 4. After age adjustment, the number of workers diagnosed as NIHL decreases to 60% of unadjusted.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.126-136
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among use of earphones, stress level, and hearing threshold in university students. Methods: Study subjects included 210 university students (76 men, 134 women). Data were collected by questionnaire and audiometer from December 17 to 20, 2011. The SPSS win 19.0 program was used for data analysis by descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: 1) 4KHz, 6KHz hearing threshold of subjects who used earphones was higher than average hearing threshold of same age group. 2) Not significant differences in hearing threshold were observed according to frequency of use, and stress level. 3) Significant differences in 4KHz hearing threshold were observed according to earphone volume. 4) A significant positive correlation was observed between frequency of use and stress level (r=0.15, p<.05), earphone volume, and 4KHz hearing threshold (left) (r=0.15, p<.05); however, a negative correlation was observed between stress level and 4KHz hearing threshold (right) (r=-0.14, p<.05). Conclusion: A significant positive correlation was observed between frequency of use and stress level and earphone volume and 4KHz hearing threshold (left). Development of a program for hearing conservation is needed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.159-164
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the personal stereo system on the hearing in adolescents. Methods : A total of 68 adolescents(age: 13-18 years) who visited the ENT Department at a University Hospital in Daegu were personally interviewed. The questionnaires were about general characteristics of the subjects, the time of personal stereo system use (year, hour) and place. Cumulative exposure to the personal stereo system was calculated by the product of the total years and the daily hours of their use. Pure tone audiometry was performed and the hearing threshold was measured at 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 Hz. Results : The average time of using a personal stereo system a day was about 3 hours and 75% of the subjects used a personal stereo system for 2-5 years. The elevation of threshold was more prominent in the subjects who used personal stereo systems for 4 years and more compared with those subjects who used them for 3 years and under. The elevation of hearing threshold was also more prominent in the subjects who used personal stereo systems for 4 hours and more a day compared with those subjects who used personal stereo systems for 3 hours and under a day. The elevation of hearing threshold was more prominent in the subjects who used personal stereo systems for 13 hour. years and more compared to the subjects who used them 12 hour. years and under. Conclusions : These results suggest that the elevation of hearing threshold can happen to adolescents who used personal stereo systems for a long time. In order to prevent hearing loss, we need to teach adolescents appropriate usage of the personal stereo system and hearing tests should be included in the periodic school-based physical examination for the adolescents.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.197-208
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• 2011

Background: This study investigated the hearing status in Korean adults according to data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009. Methods: The data of 3,479 adults(${\geq}20$ years, 1,492 men, 1,987 women) collected by the Korean Center for Disease Control was analyzed using ${\chi}^2$-test and logistic regression. Results: Differences in hearing loss according to individual factors were evident by follows gender, region, education status, economic status, current smoking and recognition of stress. Differences in - hearing loss according to ear related factors were evident subjective hearing status, experience of tinnitus, prevalence of chronic otitis media, and tympanomembrane abnormality. Conclusion: Hearing-related disorders can cause many social problems. This study investigated a representative cross-section of Koreans to determine the hearing status. The study was limited in that the risk factors of hearing loss were not identified. It is also recommended that a program be developed that can help control the variables identified in this study along with follow-up studies to verify the model.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.487-491
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• 2020

Objectives: Reproductive health education is essential for adolescents with hearing impairment. Since they communicate using specialized language (i.e., sign language), specialized reproductive health services in sign language is a necessity. This study aimed to describe the needs, availability, and expectations of reproductive health services among adolescents with hearing impairment. Methods: This study used a qualitative approach. It was carried out at a school for children with special needs in the city of Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Data were collected by in-depth interviews. The informants were 6 adolescents with hearing impairment aged 16-17 years and 4 other key informants, including school staff and health officers. The data were then analyzed using the thematic method. Results: We found that the informants had insufficient knowledge regarding reproductive health. There was no specific subject in the curriculum regarding this issue. Teachers did not specifically provide reproductive health information. The health service unit in the school had not been utilized well for this purpose. Furthermore, no reproductive health services were provided due to the limited number of healthcare workers who could use sign language. Conclusions: The awareness and intentions of adolescents with hearing impairment regarding access to reproductive health services remain low. Health service units at schools should be optimized to enable schools to provide reproductive health information and services for these adolescents.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.3 s.43
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• pp.371-386
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• 1993

This study was carried out to evaluate diagnostic criteria of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among-workers in an iron foundry. Of 1,093 workers under the observation of noise-specific health examination, 184 workers were selected by way of first and second screening audiometric examination. A questionnaire survey, otological examinations, Rinne test and audiometric test were performed and the results were as follows ; The degree of hearing impairment in the left ear was more severe than in the right ear (p<0.05). The difference between hearing threshold of the first and the second hearing test at 1,000 Hz was about 5 dB with a narrow range of deviations while the difference at 4,000 Hz was about -7 dB with a wide range. Of the total study workers, 84.8% were tested within 15 hours away from noise exposure, and the rest after 16 hours. This study has identified that mean hearing loss at 4,000 Hz showed a significant statistical difference among the two study groups while mean hearing loss by 4-divided classification did not. The same phenomena were observed between the group with and without tinnitus and between the group with and without difficulty in hearing (p<0.05). Among 184 workers, 10 workers (5.4%) diagnosed as NIHL by old diagnostic criteria in contrast to 150 workers diagnosed as NIHL by the new diagnostic criteria. There was a significant difference between the two groups in the average hearing loss at 4,000 Hz and 4-divided classification (p<0.01), but there were no significant differences in age, the duration of employment, blood pressure and the duration wearing the personal hearing protector (p>0.05). If we apply Early Loss Index (ELI) method, some workers in younger age group diagnosed as NIHL by the new diagnostic criteria were fallen into within the normal range. In the mean time older age group show reverse results in contrast to the above finding. It is too early to confirm the value of the usage of the new diagnostic criteria in hearing examination. Further study is called for to verify the value of this criteria.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.199-206
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• 2020

Background: In a wide range of industries, noise-induced hearing loss remains one of the most prevalent occupational problems. This study aimed to assess the noise exposure level and associated factors of hearing loss among textile workers in Yangon Region, Myanmar. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a Textile mill (Thamine), Yangon Region, from April to December 2018. In total, 226 workers who were randomly selected from 3 weaving sections participated in face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. A digital sound level meter and pure-tone audiometer were used for the assessment of noise exposure level and hearing loss, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the associated factors of hearing loss. Results: In total workers, 66.4% were exposed to ≥85 dB(A) of noise exposure, and the prevalence of hearing loss was 25.7%. Age ≥35 years, below high school education, hearing difficulty, tinnitus, hypertension, > 9 years of service duration in a textile mill were positively associated with hearing loss. After adjusting confounding factors, age ≥35 years (adjusted odds ratio = 6.90, 95% confidence interval = 3.45-13.82) and tinnitus (adjusted odds ratio = 2.88, 95% confidence interval = 1.13-7.37) were persistently associated with hearing loss. Conclusion: Providing occupational hazard education and enforcement of occupational safety regulations should be taken to decrease the noise exposure level. The regular audiometry test should be conducted for assessment of hearing threshold shift. The employer needs to implement a hearing conservation program in workplace when noise exposure reaches or exceeds 85 dB(A) for 8 hours.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.329-337
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• 2019

Prevention is very important in terms of the fact that the percentage of people in their 10s and 20s experience noise-prone hearing is so serious that it can lead to serious hearing later on. This study examines the effect of the hearing loss prevention public advertisement message on the hearing loss prevention intent of the acceptor according to the type of framing(positive/negative) and self-efficacy information provision (provide information/do not provide information). The perceived risk and future time orientation as individual characteristics of individual participants were set as variables that could influence the message effect. In this paper, we propose a message expression method and effective message delivery method in the aspect of message strategy and effect of execution when promoting understanding and interest in hearing loss prevention.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.274-281
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• 2015

Although noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a significant public health problem, many people might not be aware that exposure to loud noise could occur hearing loss. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and analyze how importantly and seriously people are aware of NIHL using a 22-question survey. It was administered to random 150 people including between 20 s to 60 s. The questionnaire contained questions about i) views toward general health issues including hearing loss and tinnitus, ii) noise exposure, and iii) views toward hearing protection. Results showed that hearing loss was defined on a likert scale as 'a very big problem' by 17.33 % of respondents compared with other health issues. Surprisingly, most respondents (82 %) had not heard, read, or seen anything lately related to the issue of hearing loss. Many respondents had experience hearing problem or tinnitus under loud noise situations (85 %), however, only 11.33 % of respondents had used earplugs. Fortunately, many could be motivated to try ear protection if they were advised by a medical professional (80 %) or were aware of the potential for permeant hearing loss (78.67 %). We concluded that awareness of the potential for permanent hearing loss with noise and effective methods of hearing protection should be announced to public for preventing NIHL.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.2 s.53
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• pp.371-384
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• 1996

The purpose of this study is to investigate attitude factor related to hearing conservation and to find attitude affecting the preventive behavior for hearing conservation. The research method used in this study was self-administered questionnaire. Samples of the study were composed of 353 workers exposed noise selected randomly in 10 ship-building manufacturing companies. Authors extracted following 9 factors related hearing conservation from 26 attitude propositions prepared from previous study results and health belief model; (1) general perceived susceptibility, (2) relative perceived susceptibility compared with colleagues, (3) concern to the personal protective devices, (4) perceived severity and concern to the hearing capacity, (5) concern to the hearing and noise assessment, (6) concern to the control noise and hearing conservation, (7) group pressure and reason of wearing protective devices, (8) apathy of hearing loss from noise, (9) knowledge about hearing conservation. Attitude factors affecting the preventive health behavior were general perceived susceptibility, concern to the noise control and hearing conservation, and concern to the personal protective devices in the case of wearing personal protective devices. But in the case of avoiding noise exposure as preventive health behavior, perceived severity and concern to the hearing capacity was a significant attitude factor with knowledge about hearing conservation.