School of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Medical Faculty, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
J Occup Environ Med. 2009 Oct;51(10):1202-11. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181bae17c.
To examine the effects of solvent exposure on hearing function, through an audiological test battery, in a population not occupationally exposed to high levels of noise.
One hundred ten workers from a coating factory were studied. Jobs at the factory were divided into three different levels of solvent exposure. Hearing status was assessed with a test battery including pure-tone hearing thresholds (0.5-8 kHz), high-frequency hearing thresholds (12 and 16 kHz), and dichotic listening measured through dichotic digits test. Multiple linear regression models were created to explore possible association between solvent exposure and each of the hearing outcomes.
Significant associations between solvent exposure and the three hearing outcomes were found. Covariates such as age, gender, race, and ethnicity were also significantly associated with the studied hearing outcomes.
Occupational exposure to solvents may induce both peripheral and central auditory dysfunction. The dichotic digits test seems as a sensible tool to detect central auditory dysfunction associated with solvent exposure. Hearing loss prevention programs may use this tool to monitor hearing in solvent-exposed workers.
通过听力测试，研究非职业性暴露于高强度噪声环境人群中，溶剂暴露对听力功能的影响。
研究了一家涂料厂的 110 名工人。根据溶剂暴露水平的不同，将工厂的工作分为三个不同等级。通过纯音听阈（0.5-8 kHz）、高频听阈（12 和 16 kHz）和双耳分听测试（通过双耳分听数字测试）评估听力状况。建立了多元线性回归模型，以探讨溶剂暴露与每种听力结果之间的可能关联。
发现溶剂暴露与三种听力结果之间存在显著关联。年龄、性别、种族和民族等协变量也与研究中的听力结果显著相关。
职业性接触溶剂可能导致外周和中枢听觉功能障碍。双耳分听数字测试似乎是一种检测与溶剂暴露相关的中枢听觉功能障碍的敏感工具。听力损失预防计划可以使用该工具监测溶剂暴露工人的听力。
