Estimation of Occupational Noise–Induced Hearing Loss Using Kurtosis-Adjusted Noise Exposure Levels

作者：Meibian Zhang, Xiangjing Gao, William J. Murphy, Chucri A. Kardous, Xin Sun, Weijiang Hu, Wei Gong, Jingsong Li, Wei Qiu · 发表于：Ear and Hearing · 年份：2022 · DOI：10.1097/aud.0000000000001223 · 被引用次数：40 · 研究领域：Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics、Noise Effects and Management、Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation

OBJECTIVES: Studies have shown that in addition to energy, kurtosis plays an important role in the assessment of hearing loss caused by complex noise. The objective of this study was to investigate how to use noise recordings and audiometry collected from workers in industrial environments to find an optimal kurtosis-adjusted algorithm to better evaluate hearing loss caused by both continuous noise and complex noise. DESIGN: In this study, the combined effects of energy and kurtosis on noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) were investigated using data collected from 2601 Chinese workers exposed to various industrial noises. The cohort was divided into three subgroups based on three kurtosis (β) levels (K 1 : 3 ≤ β ≤ 10, K 2 : 10 <β ≤ 50, and K 3 : β > 50). Noise-induced permanent threshold shift at test frequencies 3, 4, and 6 kHz (NIPTS 346 ) was used as the indicator of NIHL. Predicted NIPTS 346 was calculated using the ISO 1999 model for each participant, and the actual NIPTS was obtained by correcting for age and sex using non-noise-exposed Chinese workers (n = 1297). A kurtosis-adjusted A-weighted sound pressure level normalized to a nominal 8-hour working day (L Aeq,8h ) was developed based on the kurtosis categorized group data sets using multiple linear regression. Using the NIPTS 346 and the L Aeq.8h metric, a dose-response relationship for three kurtosis groups was constructed, and the combined effect of noise level and kurtosis on NIHL was investigated. RESULTS: An opt...