Assessment of hearing in traffic men in Ismailia

ABSTRACT

280 policemen working in Ismailia Governorate were subjected to audiological evaluation to detect the effects of traffic noise on their hearing thresholds. 115 of them were traffic-men and 155 were controls. The results showed marked decrease of hearing at 4 KHz in different age groups of traffic-men, especially between 31-40 years which was statistically significant compared with the control group. The left ear was affected more than the right ear at all ages and in both groups. The duration of exposure to noise was directly related to the degree of hearing loss in the first ten years of work. Reduction of the duration of exposure is recommended