Acoustic and psychoacoustic analysis of the noise produced by the police force firearms.

UNLABELLED: Police officers are exposed to impact noise coming from firearms, which may cause irreversible injuries to the hearing system. AIM: To evaluate the noise exposure in shooting stands during gunfire exercises, to analyze the acoustic impact of the noise produced by the firearms and to associate it with tonal audiometry results. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To measure noise intensity we used a digital sound level meter, and the acoustic analysis was carried out by means of the oscillations and cochlear response curves provided by the praat software. 30 police officers were selected (27 males and 3 females). RESULTS: The peak level measured was 113.1 dB(C) from a .40 pistol and 116.8 dB(C) for a .38 revolver. The values obtained for oscillation and praat was 17.9 ± 0.3 Barks, corresponding to the rate of 4,120 and 4,580 Hz. Audiometry indicated greater hearing loss at 4,000Hz in 86.7% of the cases. CONCLUSION: With the acoustic analysis it was possible to show cause and effect between the main areas of energy excitation of the cochlea (praat cochlear response curve) and the frequencies of low hearing acuity.

Acoustic and psychoacoustic analysis of the noise produced by the police force firearms / Análise acústica e psicoacústica do ruído de armas utilizadas pela Polícia Militar

Police officers are exposed to impact noise coming from firearms, which may cause irreversible injuries to the hearing system. AIM: To evaluate the noise exposure in shooting stands during gunfire exercises, to analyze the acoustic impact of the noise produced by the firearms and to associate it with tonal audiometry results. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To measure noise intensity we used a digital sound level meter, and the acoustic analysis was carried out by means of the oscillations and cochlear response curves provided by the praat software. 30 police officers were selected (27 males and 3 females). RESULTS: The peak level measured was 113.1 dB(C) from a .40 pistol and 116.8 dB(C) for a .38 revolver. The values obtained for oscillation and praat was 17.9±0.3 Barks, corresponding to the rate of 4,120 and 4,580 Hz. Audiometry indicated greater hearing loss at 4,000Hz in 86.7 percent of the cases. CONCLUSION: With the acoustic analysis it was possible to show cause and effect between the main areas of energy excitation of the cochlea (praat cochlear response curve) and the frequencies of low hearing acuity.

Os policiais militares estão expostos a ruídos de impacto provenientes de armas de fogo, os quais são capazes de causar lesões irreversíveis ao sistema auditivo. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a exposição ao ruído no estande de tiros durante os exercícios de tiro, analisar acusticamente o ruído de impacto e relacioná-lo com os resultados de audiometria tonal. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Transversal. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: A medição do ruído foi feita por meio de decibelímetro digital e a análise acústica foi feita no software Praat, levantando as curvas de oscilograma e cocleograma. Foi selecionada uma amostra de 30 policiais militares (27 masculinos e 3 femininos). RESULTADOS: Os picos máximos medidos no estante de tiros foram de 113,1 dB(C) para pistola .40 e 116,8 dB(C) para revólver .38. Os valores obtidos por meio da relação entre o oscilograma temporal e cocleograma Praat ficaram entre 17,9±0,3 Barks, correspondendo à faixa entre 4120 e 4580 Hz. As medidas da audiometria indicaram maior perda auditiva na faixa de 4000Hz em 86,7 por cento dos casos. CONCLUSÃO: A partir da análise acústica dos tiros, foi possível demonstrar causa e efeito entre as principais áreas de excitação de energia na cóclea (cocleograma Praat) e as frequências com diminuição de acuidade auditiva.

Perfil audiológico em policiais militares do estado de São Paulo / Audiology profile in the military police state of São Paulo

Introdução: Os policiais militares constituem uma população exposta a ruído de impacto devido aos treinamentos com armas de fogo. Objetivo: Pesquisar o perfil audiológico em policiais militares do estado de São Paulo, e correlacionar à idade e o tempo de exposição com os achados audiológicos. Método: Neste estudo de série de casos, transversal, foi realizada avaliação audiológica em 200 policiais militares sendo 169 (84,5%) do gênero masculino e 31 (15,5%) do feminino, com idades entre 25 e 45 anos (média de 38,83±5,05), com média de tempo de serviço de 16,80±6,27 anos. Resultados: As principais queixas apontadas foram: zumbido (n= 52 / 26%), disacusia (n=36 / 18%), plenitude auricular (n=24 / 12%) e autofonia (n=24 / 12%). Na imitanciometria foram encontradas 100% de curvas tipo A (JERGER, 1970), e houve presença de recrutamento em 20 (10%) casos. Segundo os resultados da audiometria tonal, os dados obtidos demonstraram que 54 (27%) orelhas direita e 56 (28%) orelhas esquerda apresentaram perda auditiva. Os graus de perda com maior ocorrência foram 1 e 2 (MERLUZZI et al., 1979), com 85 (42,5%) casos. Houve correlação significativa entre a idade e o tempo de exposição com a piora dos limiares audiométricos em ambas as orelhas. Conclusão: A partir da análise dos dados audiológicos foi possível verificar que os policiais militares são uma população que apresenta risco para desenvolver a perda auditiva. Sendo assim, vemos a necessidade de implementação de programa de conservação auditiva para os policiais militares...

Introduction: The military police are a population exposed to noise impact due to training with firearms. Objective: To investigate the audiological profile of the military police in São Paulo state, and to correlate the age and duration of exposure and audiological findings. Method: In this study of case series, cross-sectional audiological evaluation was performed in 200 police officers being 169 (84.5%) were male and 31 (15.5%) females, aged between 25 and 45 years (mean 38.83 ± 5.05), average service time of 16.80 ± 6.27 years. Results: The main complains were: tinnitus (n=52/26%), hearing loss (n=36/18%), ear fullness (n=24/12%) and autophonia (n=24/12%). Impedance were found in 100% of type A curves (JERGER, 1970), and recruitment was present in 20 (10%) cases. According to the results of audiometry, the data showed that 54 (27%) right ears and 56 (28%) left ears had hearing loss. The degree of loss with higher prevalence was 1 and 2 (MERLUZZI et al., 1979), 85 (42.5%) cases. There was significant correlation between age and exposure time with the worsening of audiometric thresholds in both ears. Conclusion: From the audiological data analysis was possible that the military police are a population that presents a risk to develop hearing loss. Thus, we see the need for implementation of hearing conservation program for the military police...

Hearing loss in patients with diabetes mellitus.

UNLABELLED: The relationship between diabetes mellitus and hearing loss is described as 'controversial' in the literature, given that in the clinical realm many patients present dysacusis while others do not. AIM: this study aims to investigate the relationship between hearing loss and diabetes mellitus and add to the knowledge being developed in this area. STUDY DESIGN: cross-sectional clinical trial. MATERIALS AND METHOD: in our study we analyzed the medical charts of 50 adult patients of both genders, aged above 45 years, and diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, seen in our institution in 2006 and 2007, and compared them to the charts of 50 metabolic disease-free individuals. RESULTS: this study found statistically significant worse audiometric thresholds among patients with diabetes mellitus when compared to patients in the control group. CONCLUSION: the results identified in this study point to a correlation between hearing loss and diabetes mellitus. This possibility should therefore be further investigated by health care workers providing care to patients with diabetes mellitus, in the form of closer follow-up on the auditory health of this patient group.

Hearing loss in patients with diabetes mellitus / Perdas auditivas em pacientes portadores de diabetes melito

The relationship between diabetes mellitus and hearing loss is described as 'controversial' in the literature, given that in the clinical realm many patients present dysacusis while others do not. AIM: this study aims to investigate the relationship between hearing loss and diabetes mellitus and add to the knowledge being developed in this area. STUDY DESIGN: cross-sectional clinical trial. MATERIALS AND METHOD: in our study we analyzed the medical charts of 50 adult patients of both genders, aged above 45 years, and diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, seen in our institution in 2006 and 2007, and compared them to the charts of 50 metabolic disease-free individuals. RESULTS: this study found statistically significant worse audiometric thresholds among patients with diabetes mellitus when compared to patients in the control group. CONCLUSION: the results identified in this study point to a correlation between hearing loss and diabetes mellitus. This possibility should therefore be further investigated by health care workers providing care to patients with diabetes mellitus, in the form of closer follow-up on the auditory health of this patient group.

A literatura especializada descreve que a relação causa e efeito entre diabetes melito e perda auditiva é bastante controversa, visto que, na prática clínica, muitos pacientes apresentam disacusia e outros não. OBJETIVO: Investigar a relação entre perda auditiva e diabetes melito, a fim de contribuir para resultados mais precisos sobre o assunto em pauta. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Estudo clínico com coorte transversal. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: No presente estudo foram analisados os prontuários de 50 indivíduos adultos atendidos nos anos de 2006 e 2007, de ambos os sexos, com idade superior a 45 anos, portadores do diabetes melito, e 50 prontuários de indivíduos que não apresentaram doenças metabólicas. RESULTADOS: A presente pesquisa identificou uma piora dos limiares audiométricos dos pacientes com diabetes melito quando comparados aos do Grupo Controle, com diferença estatisticamente significante. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados obtidos neste estudo indicam a correlação entre perda auditiva e diabetes melito. Sendo assim, essa possibilidade deve ser investigada pelos profissionais da saúde que trabalham com portadores de diabetes melito, por meio de acompanhamento da saúde auditiva dessa população.

Perfil audiológico em crianças de 5 a 10 anos de idade / Audiological profile in children aging from 5 to 10 years

Objetivo: Este estudo foi realizado para pesquisar a incidência de alterações auditivas e traçar o perfil audiológico de crianças atendidas no Centro de Estudos da Educação e da Saúde. Método: Foram pesquisados os resultados audiológicos de 150 crianças, na faixa etária entre 5 a 10 anos, e média de 7,3 anos de idade. Foram obtidos dados da anamnese audiológica, audiometria tonal liminar e imitanciometria. Resultados: Os achados da anamnese revelaram como principais queixas: história de otites (58%), otorréia (22,5%), infecções das vias aéreas superiores (13,5%), amigdalite (10%) e hipertrofia de adenóide (8%). Os resultados da audiometria tonal revelaram 93 crianças com limiares auditivos dentro da normalidade, 36 casos de perdas auditivas bilaterais e 21 unilaterais. Em relação ao tipo da perda, 48 foram condutivas, 7 mistas e 2 neurossensoriais. A imitanciometria foi realizada em 142 sujeitos, sendo que, do total de orelhas avaliadas, foram identificadas curvas timpanométricas tipo A em 154 (54%) orelhas, tipo B em 71 (25%), tipo C em 36 (12,5%), tipo As em 12 (4,5%) e tipo Ad em 11 (4%). Conclusão: Considerando o perfil audiológico quanto ao tipo da perda auditiva, em 96,5% dos casos alterados, houve a presença de componente condutivo ou misto, e em 63% destes casos, ou a perda foi unilateral, ou apresentou, ao menos em uma orelha, perda de grau mínimo. Em relação à configuração, as curvas com formato horizontal, ascendente e irregular, juntas corresponderam a 90,5% das orelhas pesquisadas.

Objective: This study investigates the incidence of auditory alterations and traces the audiological profile in children assisted at the Centro de Estudos da Educação e da Saúde. Method: Audiological findings from 150 children aging between 5 and 10 years (average age 7.3 years) were investigated. Data from audiological anamnesis, pure tone threshold audiometry and acoustic immittance measurements were obtained. Results: The anamnesis findings revealed the following complaints: otitis history (58%), otorrhea (22.5%), upper airway infections (13.5%), palatine tonsillitis (10%) and adenoidal hypertrophy (8%). The pure tone threshold audiometry results revealed that 93 children had normal hearing thresholds, 36 had bilateral hearing loss and 21 had unilateral hearing loss. Regarding the type of hearing loss, forty eight had conductive, seven mixed and two sensorineural. Acoustic immittance measurements were also tested in 142 subjects. From the total of ears evaluated, acoustic immittance measurements type A were identified in 154 (54%) ears, type B in 71 (25%), type C in 36 (12.5%), type As in 12 (4.5%) and type Ad in 11 (4%). Conclusion: the audiological profile indicated that 96.5% of cases with hearing loss, conductive or mixed components were observed. In addition, in 63% of these cases, the hearing loss was unilateral or a minimum degree of hearing loss was presented in at least one ear. Regarding configuration, horizontal, ascendant and irregular curves correspond altogether to 90.5% of the examined ears