Shu Yi, Zhang Wenwen, Zhou Jiaji
Pediatric Department (2) of Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Noise Health. 2024;26(123):553-558. doi: 10.4103/nah.nah_109_24. Epub 2024 Dec 30.
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in children is a growing public health concern due to increased exposure to high noise levels in various environments. Early intervention is crucial to prevent long-term developmental and social impacts. This study evaluates the effectiveness of earmuffs as a protective intervention in managing NIHL in children.
A prospective study was conducted involving 120 paediatric patients aged 5-12 years diagnosed with NIHL. Patients were divided into an intervention group (n = 60), who received standard treatment plus earmuffs, and a control group (n = 60), who received standard treatment only. Pure-tone audiometry tests were used to assess hearing thresholds at baseline and post-intervention. Family satisfaction was also assessed using a self-administered questionnaire.
Hearing thresholds substantially improved in the intervention group compared with those in the control group. After the intervention, hearing thresholds in the intervention group reduced by 7.31 decibels (dB) at 500 Hertz (Hz), 6.73 dB at 1000 Hz, 6.66 dB at 2000 Hz and 6.92 dB at 4000 Hz (P < 0.05). In the control group, reductions were 3.74, 3.72, 3.64 and 3.80 dB, respectively (P < 0.05). Family satisfaction was significantly higher in the intervention group, with 91.7% expressing satisfaction, compared with 65.0% in the control group (P = 0.030).
This study demonstrates the effectiveness of earmuffs in preventing NIHL in children, showing improvements in hearing thresholds and increased family satisfaction. These findings suggest that earmuffs could be beneficial as part of standard preventive measures for paediatric patients exposed to high noise levels and highlight their potential practical and clinical value.
由于儿童在各种环境中接触高强度噪音的机会增加，噪声性听力损失（NIHL）已成为一个日益严重的公共卫生问题。早期干预对于预防长期的发育和社会影响至关重要。本研究评估了耳罩作为一种保护性干预措施在管理儿童噪声性听力损失方面的有效性。
进行了一项前瞻性研究，纳入了120名年龄在5至12岁、被诊断为噪声性听力损失的儿科患者。患者被分为干预组（n = 60），接受标准治疗加耳罩；对照组（n = 60），仅接受标准治疗。使用纯音听力测试来评估基线和干预后的听力阈值。还通过一份自填式问卷评估了家庭满意度。
与对照组相比，干预组的听力阈值有显著改善。干预后，干预组在500赫兹（Hz）处的听力阈值降低了7.31分贝（dB），在1000 Hz处降低了6.73 dB，在2000 Hz处降低了6.66 dB，在4000 Hz处降低了6.92 dB（P < 0.05）。在对照组中，相应的降低分别为3.74、3.72、3.64和3.80 dB（P < 0.05）。干预组的家庭满意度显著更高，91.7%的人表示满意，而对照组为65.0%（P = 0.030）。
本研究证明了耳罩在预防儿童噪声性听力损失方面的有效性，听力阈值得到改善，家庭满意度提高。这些发现表明，对于暴露于高强度噪音的儿科患者，耳罩作为标准预防措施的一部分可能有益，并突出了其潜在的实际和临床价值。
