ABSTRACT
Background: Dentist and allied professionals are undoubtedly among professional groups at risk of noise- induced hearing impairment in the workplace. There has been speculation about the relationship between hearing loss and the use of high-speed dental drills among dental professionals. In resource-poor settings, dental instruments may be old and worn out with the attendant risks of hearing impairment following their use. Aim: To report the awareness and assessment of work-related hearing impairment among dental professionals in Kano State. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire-based survey among Dentists and dental allied staff in Kano State. Participants were given questionnaires containing detailed information about the survey to fill after consenting. Each questionnaire was examined to ensure they were properly filled and the consent form duly signed. Results: A total of 138 respondents fulfilled the inclusion criteria with a response rate of 86%. The highest respondents were Dental surgeon assistants and dental hygienist under 35 years (85.5%) of age and had worked for at least 5years. Sixty two respondents (44.9%) worked more than 8 hours / day while 76(55.1%) worked less than 8hours/day. Out of 99(71.7%) respondents who use Ultrasonic scaler about 43(43.0%) reported that the Ultrasonic scaler was at least 5 years old while out of 84 respondents who use dental turbines, 36(42.9%) of them reported that the turbines were at least 5years old. Loud power generators were an additional source of exposure to loud noise 42(31.6%) contributing to hearing impairment. Conclusion: It is recommended that periodic hearing evaluation and use of hearing protective devices and appropriate content workshops/seminar about work related noise exposure made a mandatory part of continuous professional development for dental professionals.
ABSTRACT
Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Disabling Hearing impairment and describe socio-demographic and hearing related risk factors as possible predictors of disabling hearing impairment. Study Design: This was a Cross-sectional and descriptive study Place and Duration of Study: A semi-urban district called Kumbotso in Kano state, Northern Nigeria. 3rd March 2013. Methodology: Data came from 58 participants, (39 females, 19 males; age range 5-50 years) who completed audiometric testing during the Ear diseases/Hearing impairment survey. Audiometric testing was performed on the participants, air-conduction hearing thresholds in decibels hearing level (dB HL) were obtained for each ear at frequencies of 0.5-4 kHz. Disabling Hearing loss was defined as pure-tone average of air conduction thresholds of ≥ 35dB HL for adults and children while identifying independent risk factors using logistic regression. Results: Out of 91 subjects, 58 subjects had pure tone audiometry giving a participation rate of 63.7% with a prevalence rate for disabling hearing loss of 31%. Controlling for gender, duration of hearing impairment, family history and relationship with subject with hearing loss, odds ratio for associations with Disabling Hearing impairment were 14.57 (95% CI: 2.14-99.44) for age and 61.55 (5.60-112.82) for aetiology of hearing loss. These variables particularly young age and ear diseases were the strongest predictors. Conclusion: Age, aetiology of hearing loss particularly, young age and the presence of ear disease are potential indicators for the development of disabling hearing impairment/loss during rural and/or community-based surveys.