Speech recognition index of workers with tinnitus exposed to environmental or occupational noise: a comparative study.

INTRODUCTION: Tinnitus is considered the third worst symptom affecting humans. The aim of this article is to assess complaints by workers with tinnitus exposed to environmental and occupational noise. METHODOLOGY: 495 workers went through an epidemiological survey at the Audiology Department of the Center for Studies on Workers' Health and Human Ecology, from 2003 to 2007. The workers underwent tonal and vocal audiometry, preceded by a clinical and occupational history questionnaire. Two-factor ANOVA and Tukey were the statistical tests used. All the analysis set statistical significance at α=5%. FINDINGS: There was a higher prevalence of occupational tinnitus (73.7%), a predominance of female domestic workers (65.4%) in cases of environmental exposure, and predominance of male construction workers (71.5%) for occupational exposure. There was a significant difference in workers with hearing loss, who showed a mean speech recognition index (SRI) of 85%, as compared to healthy workers with a mean SRI greater than 93.5%. Signs and symptoms, speech perception, and interference in sound localization with the type of noise exposure (environmental versus occupational) comparisons found no significant differences. CONCLUSION: Studied group's high prevalence of tinnitus, major difficulties in speech recognition with hearing loss and the presence of individuals with normal hearing with both types of exposure justify the importance of measures in health promotion, prevention, and hearing surveillance. The findings highlight the importance of valuing the patients' own perception as the first indication of tinnitus and hearing loss in order to help develop appropriate public policies within the Unified National Health System (SUS).

[Hearing protection used by the military of the Brazilian Army: is it effective?]. / A proteção auditiva utilizada pelos militares do Exército Brasileiro: há efetividade?

This study aims to identify the noise exposure and verify if the hearing protection used by these workers is adjusted for the exposure to the impact noise during the activities of Basic Shot Instruction in the Brazilian Army produced by Light Automatic Fusils - FAL, caliber 7.62mm. This study can be considered analytical, since it seeks to establish causal relations among the diverse variables involved. It was used the qualitative approach, in the mapping of the working process; and also the quantitative approach in order to analyze the data in relation to this process. It was possible to have a close estimate of the reality on the basis of data collection triangulation, to include: systematic observation, half structured interview and experimental exercise. Based on the analyses, it can be stated these workers are exposed to a noise which ranges from 147.3 to 171 dB. Therefore, it can be concluded that the 3M 1100 hearing protection, which is largely used by military, do not provide noise reduction, since its reducing value corresponds to NRRsf at 12 dB. Thus, there is no effectiveness in hearing protection for the soldiers.

A proteção auditiva utilizada pelos militares do Exército Brasileiro: há efetividade? / Hearing protection used by the military of the Brazilian Army: is it effective?

Neste estudo, buscou-se identificar a exposição sonora e verificar se a proteção auditiva utilizada por esses trabalhadores é adequada para a exposição ao ruído de impacto, durante as atividades de Tiro de Instrução Básico realizadas no Exército Brasileiro, produzidos pelo Fuzil Automático Leve - FAL, calibre 7,62mm. O presente estudo caracteriza-se como analítico, uma vez que busca estabelecer relações causais entre as diversas variáveis envolvidas. Utilizou-se da abordagem qualitativa, no mapeamento do processo de trabalho; e da abordagem quantitativa na analise dos dados em relação a esse processo. Foi possível uma aproximação da realidade a partir de uma triangulação de técnicas de coleta de dados, a saber: observação sistemática; entrevista semi-estruturada e exercício experimental. Diante das análises realizadas, pode-se garantir que esses trabalhadores estão expostos a um NPS mínimo de 147,3 dB durante as atividades de tiro, podendo esse valor atingir 171 dB. Assim, entende-se que a real redução do ruído, oferecida pelo protetor 1100 da 3M, principal modelo utilizado pelos militares, cujo valor de atenuação auditiva corresponde a NRRsf de 12 dB, não caracteriza efetividade na proteção auditiva para os militares.

This study aims to identify the noise exposure and verify if the hearing protection used by these workers is adjusted for the exposure to the impact noise during the activities of Basic Shot Instruction in the Brazilian Army produced by Light Automatic Fusils - FAL, caliber 7.62mm. This study can be considered analytical, since it seeks to establish causal relations among the diverse variables involved. It was used the qualitative approach, in the mapping of the working process; and also the quantitative approach in order to analyze the data in relation to this process. It was possible to have a close estimate of the reality on the basis of data collection triangulation, to include: systematic observation, half structured interview and experimental exercise. Based on the analyses, it can be stated these workers are exposed to a noise which ranges from 147.3 to 171 dB. Therefore, it can be concluded that the 3M 1100 hearing protection, which is largely used by military, do not provide noise reduction, since its reducing value corresponds to NRRsf at 12 dB. Thus, there is no effectiveness in hearing protection for the soldiers.

Interferência do brinquedo sonoro na atividade exploratória de crianças na faixa etária de 1 a 2 anos / The interference of sound toys on exploratory behavior of children aged from 1 to 2 years old

Com o objetivo de analisar a influência de brinquedos sonoros no comportamento exploratório de crianças na faixa etária de 1 a 2 anos incompletos, participaram deste estudo 20 crianças que apresentavam normoacusia. As crianças foram submetidas a gravações em videotape na situação de interação com 10 brinquedos previamente selecionados. Foram realizados dois períodos de 10 minutos de gravação: no primeiro, os brinquedos não produziam som, e no segundo os sons de cada brinquedo estavam ativados. As imagens foram analisadas segundo o Sistema de Observação do Comportamento da Criança (Coutinho, 1990), que estabelece categorias de comportamento. A comparação entre as diversas categorias de comportamento das crianças nas duas situações evidenciou diferenças significativas quando o som era introduzido no brinquedo. Em média, as crianças aumentaram as ocorrências nos itens de comportamento Olhar (p<0,05) e Manipulação Ativa Especifica (p<0,001), tendo reduzido significativamente a ocorrência de Manipulação Ativa Básica (p<0,001) e Contato Mínimo (p,0,05) não havendo alterações nos itens referentes aos comportamentos Fora da Tarefa e Social (p>0,05). Foi concluído que o som no brinquedo exerce uma influência relevante no comportamento exploratório das crianças na faixa etária estudada.(AU)

For analysing the influence of sound toys on the child exploratory behavior, an experimental study was carried out with children with ages from one to two years (incomplete) twenty children with normal hearing participated in the study. These children were submitted to videotape recordings in a situation of interaction with 10 toys. Two ten minute sessions were recorded: the first session was carried out with toys without sound, whereas in the second session the sound of every toy was activated. The recordings were analysed according to the Child Behavior Observation System (Coutinho, 1990). A comparison among the children different behavior categories in both situations revealed significant differences when the sound of the toys was activated In average, the children increased the frequency on the behavior items Look (p<0.05) and Specific Active Manipulation (p<0.001), reducing significantly as well the frequency on the Basic Active Mnipulation (p<0.001) and Minimal Contact (p<0.05). No alterations on the items referring to Off Task and Social behaviors was observed (p>0.05). It was con eluded that the sound of the toy had a relevant influence on children explorative behavior in the age range covered by this study.(AU)

Interferência do brinquedo sonoro na atividade exploratória de crianças na faixa etária de 1 a 2 anos / The interference of sound toys on exploratory behavior of children aged from 1 to 2 years old

Com o objetivo de analisar a influência de brinquedos sonoros no comportamento exploratório de crianças na faixa etária de 1 a 2 anos incompletos, participaram deste estudo 20 crianças que apresentavam normoacusia. As crianças foram submetidas a gravações em videotape na situação de interação com 10 brinquedos previamente selecionados. Foram realizados dois períodos de 10 minutos de gravação: no primeiro, os brinquedos não produziam som, e no segundo os sons de cada brinquedo estavam ativados. As imagens foram analisadas segundo o Sistema de Observação do Comportamento da Criança (Coutinho, 1990), que estabelece categorias de comportamento. A comparação entre as diversas categorias de comportamento das crianças nas duas situações evidenciou diferenças significativas quando o som era introduzido no brinquedo. Em média, as crianças aumentaram as ocorrências nos itens de comportamento Olhar (p<0,05) e Manipulação Ativa Especifica (p<0,001), tendo reduzido significativamente a ocorrência de Manipulação Ativa Básica (p<0,001) e Contato Mínimo (p,0,05) não havendo alterações nos itens referentes aos comportamentos Fora da Tarefa e Social (p>0,05). Foi concluído que o som no brinquedo exerce uma influência relevante no comportamento exploratório das crianças na faixa etária estudada.

For analysing the influence of sound toys on the child exploratory behavior, an experimental study was carried out with children with ages from one to two years (incomplete) twenty children with normal hearing participated in the study. These children were submitted to videotape recordings in a situation of interaction with 10 toys. Two ten minute sessions were recorded: the first session was carried out with toys without sound, whereas in the second session the sound of every toy was activated. The recordings were analysed according to the Child Behavior Observation System (Coutinho, 1990). A comparison among the children different behavior categories in both situations revealed significant differences when the sound of the toys was activated In average, the children increased the frequency on the behavior items Look (p<0.05) and Specific Active Manipulation (p<0.001), reducing significantly as well the frequency on the Basic Active Mnipulation (p<0.001) and Minimal Contact (p<0.05). No alterations on the items referring to Off Task and Social behaviors was observed (p>0.05). It was con eluded that the sound of the toy had a relevant influence on children explorative behavior in the age range covered by this study.

Promoção e Cuidado da Saúde do Trabalhador - Márcia Soalheiro

Apresentação de Márcia Soalheiro, coordenadora do Serviço de Fonoaudiologia do Centro de Estudos da Saúde do Trabalhador e Ecologia Humana (CESTEH/ENSP/Fiocruz). Arquivos disponíveis para leitura, áudio e/ou download nos ícones ao lado.