Hearing loss in the royal Norwegian navy: a cross-sectional study

Objectives Prior studies have indicated a high prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among Navy personnel; however, it is not clear whether this is caused by work on board. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of hearing loss among Navy personnel in the Royal Norwegian Navy (RN...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International archives of occupational and environmental health 2015-07, Vol.88 (5), p.641-649
Main Authors: Irgens-Hansen, Kaja, Sunde, Erlend, Bråtveit, Magne, Baste, Valborg, Oftedal, Gunnhild, Koefoed, Vilhelm, Lind, Ola, Moen, Bente Elisabeth
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age
Armed forces
Cross-Sectional Studies
Earth and Environmental Science
Environment
Environmental Health
Female
Gender
Hearing loss
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced - epidemiology
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced - etiology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Military personnel
Military Personnel - statistics & numerical data
Noise, Occupational - adverse effects
Norway - epidemiology
Occupational Diseases - epidemiology
Occupational Diseases - etiology
Occupational Exposure - adverse effects
Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine
Original
Original Article
Prevalence
Rehabilitation
Ships
Time Factors
Young Adult
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Summary:Objectives Prior studies have indicated a high prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among Navy personnel; however, it is not clear whether this is caused by work on board. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of hearing loss among Navy personnel in the Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN), and to investigate whether there is an association between work on board RNoN vessels and occurrence of hearing loss. Methods Navy personnel currently working on board RNoN vessels were recruited to complete a questionnaire on noise exposure and health followed by pure tone audiometry. Hearing loss was defined as hearing threshold levels ≥25 dB in either ear at the frequencies 3,000, 4,000 or 6,000 Hz. Hearing thresholds were adjusted for age and gender using ISO 7029. Results The prevalence of hearing loss among Navy personnel was 31.4 %. The work exposure variables: years of work in the Navy, years on vessel(s) in the Navy and years of sailing in the Navy were associated with reduced hearing after adjusting for age, gender and otitis as an adult. Among the work exposure variables, years of sailing in the Navy was the strongest predictor of reduced hearing, and significantly reduced hearing was found at the frequencies 1,000, 3,000 and 4,000 Hz. Conclusions Our results indicate that time spent on board vessels in the RNoN is a predictor of reduced hearing.
ISSN:0340-0131
1432-1246
DOI:10.1007/s00420-014-0988-8