Sampling study on auditory status of civil aviation air traffic controllers / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE To investigate and analysis of hearing status and characteristics of China civil aviation air traffic controllers(ATC). METHODS With cluster random sampling, air conduction threshold data of 1498 ATC, who had finished the class Ⅲa medical assessment this year in a certain area were studied. The subjects were tested by pure tone audiometry, the prevalence rate of speech and high frequency hearing loss between gender groups were compared; After age correction, the threshold of different frequencies were compared between age groups. RESULTS The prevalence rate of hearing loss at speech frequency was 6.68％ in male and 1.97％ in female. The result of high frequency was 7.87％ and 1.23％ respectively. Both the threshold and prevalence rate of hearing loss of every frequency were higher in male(P<0.05); The threshold of 3000 Hz<PTA<6000 Hz; After age correction, all the threshold had statistical difference between the former age groups(P<0.05) and the result of relatively young age group was worse than the elder. (Male corrected P<0.0083, Female corrected P<0.017). CONCLUSION The prevalence of hearing loss in the subjects was lower than that in general population. Males were prone to it and more prevalent at 6000 Hz; The hidden trouble of noise-induced hearing loss is especially serious in the young age group; Individualized hearing protection should be implemented early.