Assessment of hearing loss in high risk individuals using high frequency pure tone audiometry.

Exposure to loud noise is the most common cause of sensory neural hearing loss in adults. It is an irreversible type of hearing loss typically affecting higher frequency initially then gradually progressing to lower frequency. NIHL is a preventable type of hearing loss through early intervention. Early detection of hearing loss is possible with the help of high frequency pure tone audiometry which may be undetected by a conventional audiometry. AIMS OF STUDY • Early detection of Hearing loss in high risk individuals, exposed to noisy environment • To compare the efficacy of conventional audiometer with the high frequency audiometer in early detection of hearing loss • Early intervention and prevention of noise induced hearing loss • To evaluate the relationship between duration of noise exposure and hearing loss METHODOLOGY T h e st u d y was conducted in the department of otorhinolaryngology Government General Hospital Madras Medical College Chennai 60003. A total of 50 subjects were examined within the age group 25 to 55 years .30 people were traffic police and 20 people were drivers in the Central Chennai exposed to nose of an average of 105dB .All the cases subjected to PTA, impedance ,OAE,high frequency pure tone audiometry. RESULTS - In my study 83% of subject in the age group 30-40years have high frequency hearing loss and 75% cases above the age 40 years have high frequency hearing loss -82.5% of cases with normal PTA had high frequency hearing loss -All the subjects with PTA with dip at 4kHz had high frequency hearing loss -96.5 %of cases have absence of OAE -There is considerable relation between duration of exposure and hearing loss and it is proven . -All most all cases have symmetrical bilateral hearing loss CONCLUSION By the time hearing loss is detected using conventional audiometry damage has already been affect the speech frequencies. It will affect the verbal communication of the patient and affect the quality of Life Therefore by using high frequency audiometry early detection of hearing loss in the high frequency can be detected. It will help us to take an early warning to those working in noisy environment to take preventive measures.