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KMID : 0381319630020110017
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Korean Journal of Occupational Health
1963 Volume.2 No. 11 p.17 ~ p.23
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Abstract
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This is a preliminary report on screening test by audiochecker to determine the prevalence of hearing loss among 12, 721 male and 11, 627 female workers in Korean industrial plants. These tests were conducted as part of periodic health examinations of industrial workers which were begun in April this year.
We screened out the cases of hearing loss from the normal using an audiochecker on the level of 40 decibel loss in 4, 000 cps. sounds. These cases of hearing loss were, according to their origins, classified into two groups, occupational and non-occupational. The results of the observation of the prevalence of hearing loss among Korean industrial workers by age, sex, occupation, length of working period and so on, are as follows :
1) Prevalence rates of hearing loss are 2. 1% for all subjects, 3. 33% for males and 0.77% for female workers.
2) These figures dropped to 2. 57% in males and 0.63% in females when all the cases of hearing loss were excluded who had or had had ear diseases or organic changes in the ear which were feared to be the causes of hearing loss.
3) Defining as occupational cases of hearing loss in both ears without any ear disease or organic change who have been working in noisy working environments for a sufficient period, it was found that the prevalence rates of occupational hearing loss are 1. 5% in males and 0.33% in female workers.
As for the prevalence rates by occupation, the rate in females is the highest among those in textile industry, and in males, the highest rates can be seen among those in metal and machinary industry and food manufacturing industry, with the figures of 4. 1% and 2. 0% respectively.
4) The prevalence rate of hearing loss grows higher as the ages and the lengths of working period of workers increase. The prevalence rates of occupational hearing loss among those with working periods of less than 1 year, less than 4 years, more than 5 years and more than 11 years are 0.8%, 1.7%, 2.5% and 3.0% respectively.
The occupational hearing ´ loss increases in number after thirty years of age (0, 75%) and the rate shows 3. 9% at the age of 45.
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