Morata Thais C, Carlson Krystin, Fuente Adrian, Poling Gayla L, Garinis Angela, Hullar Timothy, Lee John, Pouyatos Benoit, Sliwinska-Kowalska Mariola, Dreisbach Laura, Stuehm Hunter, Konrad-Martin Dawn
Division of Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Int J Audiol. 2025 Jun 14:1-10. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2025.2508728.
Ototoxic chemicals in the workplace can pose a risk to hearing and balance functions. Our objective was to identify evidence-based practices for occupational health settings in managing ototoxicity. This resulted in the document, created by the International Ototoxicity Management Group.
To develop a practical approach for any workplace, we reviewed a variety of sources and used an international panel of interdisciplinary experts. Evidence included data from experimental, observational, and review studies. Thirty-two subject matter experts were invited to review the document; twenty-two completed the review and unanimously endorsed the ototoxicity management system as proposed.
Six key action steps were proposed to: (1) identify workers exposed to ototoxic chemicals, (2) perform auditory and vestibular assessments, (3) follow-up after monitoring health, (4) document worker data, (5) maintain healthy safety culture, and (6) review ototoxicity management approach. These steps focus on the management of workers who are at-risk for workplace ototoxic chemical exposure at any level (with or without concurrent noise exposures).
Early identification strategies include self-report questionnaires; auditory testing; vestibular screening; referrals for diagnosis; management of cases; and monitoring of exposure scenarios to prevent further cases.
工作场所中的耳毒性化学物质会对听力和平衡功能构成风险。我们的目标是确定职业健康环境中管理耳毒性的循证实践方法。这促成了由国际耳毒性管理小组编制的这份文件。
为了为任何工作场所制定一种实用方法，我们查阅了各种资料来源，并组建了一个跨学科国际专家小组。证据包括来自实验性、观察性和综述性研究的数据。邀请了32位主题专家审阅该文件；22位完成了审阅并一致认可所提议的耳毒性管理系统。
提出了六个关键行动步骤，以：（1）识别接触耳毒性化学物质的工人，（2）进行听觉和前庭评估，（3）在监测健康状况后进行随访，（4）记录工人数据，（5）维持健康的安全文化，以及（6）审查耳毒性管理方法。这些步骤侧重于管理在任何水平上有工作场所耳毒性化学物质接触风险的工人（无论是否同时接触噪声）。
早期识别策略包括自我报告问卷；听觉测试；前庭筛查；诊断转诊；病例管理；以及监测接触情况以预防更多病例。
