Bergström B, Nyström B
Scand Audiol. 1986;15(4):227-34. doi: 10.3109/01050398609042148.
Occupational noise-induced hearing loss is still responsible for the majority of occupational ailments and injuries, with very large sums being paid in compensation. Repeated hearing tests over a 20-year period have been performed on 319 employees of a timber processing firm, working in sawmills and paper pulp production, exposed to mean noise levels of around 95-100 dB (A) and in a chemicals division with mean noise exposure levels of 80-90 dB (A). During the observation period, mean hearing levels deteriorated slowly, especially at 4 kHz, but no dramatic changes from one year to another were seen. We therefore propose 3-year intervals between regular hearing tests in this type of industry where noise exposure is predominantly of the continuous type, thus releasing resources for more active measures against noise-induced hearing loss. Cases of manifest hearing loss or otherwise at risk must of course be followed up at shorter intervals. A remarkably large proportion of the employees in the chemicals division suffered a hearing loss corresponding to 10% disablement according to Swedish criteria, which raises the question of a possible relation between exposure to industrial solvents and hearing loss.
职业性噪声所致听力损失仍然是大多数职业疾病和伤害的原因，为此支付的赔偿金数额巨大。对一家木材加工公司的319名员工进行了为期20年的重复听力测试，这些员工分别在锯木厂和纸浆生产车间工作，平均噪声水平约为95 - 100 dB(A)，还有一些在化学品部门工作，平均噪声暴露水平为80 - 90 dB(A)。在观察期内，平均听力水平缓慢下降，尤其是在4 kHz处，但每年之间没有明显变化。因此，我们建议在这种噪声暴露主要为连续类型的行业中，定期听力测试的间隔时间为3年，从而腾出资源采取更积极的措施来预防噪声所致听力损失。当然，对于明显听力损失或有其他风险的病例，必须缩短随访间隔时间。根据瑞典标准，化学品部门中相当大比例的员工听力损失相当于10%的残疾，这就引发了工业溶剂暴露与听力损失之间可能存在关联的问题。
