%0 Journal Article
%T Vestibular Symptoms in Factory Workers Subjected to Noise for a Long Period
%A G Raghunath
%A LB Suting
%A S Maruthy
%J International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
%D 2012
%I National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Health Organization
%X Background: Noise can cause permanent or temporary hearing loss. High levels of noise may stimulate the vestibular system and thereby cause disturbances in the balancing mechanism. Objective: To determine the effect of long-term exposure to occupational noise on the vestibular system. Methods: A dizziness questionnaire was administered to 20 factory workers who were exposed to occupational noise for more than 10 years. The results were compared with 2 control groups. The control group 1 consisted of 20 people who had similar physical activity during work but were not exposed to high level of noise. Control group 2 consisted of 20 students never exposed to hazardous noise. Results: There was significant difference between the experimental group and the 2 control groups in terms of frequency of vestibular symptoms. However, most of the symptoms were subtle in nature. Tinnitus was significantly (p<0.05) more frequent in the experimental group than the 2 control groups. Conclusions: Long-term exposure to noise may cause vestibular symptoms before clinically detectable hearing loss. The symptoms are subtle for which they are mostly neglected; the symptoms do not affect the functional ability of workers.
%K Hearing loss
%K noise-induced
%K Vestibular diseases
%K Dizziness
%K Vertigo
%K Hair cells
%K auditory
%U http://www.theijoem.com/ijoem/index.php/ijoem/article/view/124