AN AUDIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF HEARING THRESHOLD AMONG STUDENTS AND FACULTY IN A DENTAL TEACHING INSTITUTE: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY.

Dr. DEEBA SADAF; Dr. VINAYA KUMAR R; Dr. ANUROOPA P; Mrs. SAVITHA SHASTRY

Volume : IX, Issue : VIII, August - 2020

AN AUDIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF HEARING THRESHOLD AMONG STUDENTS AND FACULTY IN A DENTAL TEACHING INSTITUTE: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY.

Dr. Deeba Sadaf, Dr. Vinaya Kumar R, Dr. Anuroopa P, Mrs. Savitha Shastry

Abstract :

Background: Dental professionals are exposed to high noise levels for extended periods while working in dental hospitals, clinics and laboratories. Although this doesn�t fall into the harmful category; repeated use of equipments/instruments emitting these decibel levels may cause he� damage. Aims: The aim of our cross–sectional observational study was to assess if noise induced he� loss (NIHL) was prevalent among dental students and faculty in our institute and investigate if any link exists between prolonged noise exposure and he� loss. Materials and methods: The study participants were divided into four groups of 15 each. Groups 1 and 2 consisted of 1st year undergraduate and 3rd year postgraduate students respectively while Groups 3 and 4 comprised faculty and practitioners with an experience of 1–10 years and 11 years or more. All of them underwent audiometric analysis. Statistical analyses: SPSS software was used for analyses. One–way ANOVA test and Tukey�s post–hoc analysis were used to compare the mean PTA levels while Chi–Square test was used to evaluate the prevalence of NIHL between the study groups. Results: The signs of NIHL were highest in Group 4 (80%) followed by Group 3 (33.3%). Groups 1 and 2 exhibited normal he� sensitivity. However, no predilection for any ear was observed with respect to he� loss. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that NIHL is prevalent among dental professionals. The observed findings seem to suggest that there could exist a correlation between duration of noise exposure and development of NIHL. This study highlights the fact that NIHL is a real and grave health peril facing the dental fraternity.