Comparative Study on the Efficacy of Different Protection Methods In Chronic Acoustic Trauma

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the medical and economic efficacy of the main known protective methods in order to prevent hearing loss due to chronic acoustic trauma. The study subjects work in various noisy environments and have different professions, requiring various education levels and hearing capabilities. These conditions lead to various possibilities and acceptability for hearing protection. The study subjects’ hearing levels were evaluated by pure tone audiometry, after testing the noise levels with the help of a sonodosimeter. The protection methods used and analyzed were mechanic protection devices and two kinds of antioxidant therapy – a combination of vitamins A, C, and E with Selenium and alpha-lipoic acid, in a 6 month therapy. The data were computed using suitable statistic software. The results showed a reduced acceptability for the mechanical protection devices in the industrial environment, a very high efficiency of the antioxidant therapy with alpha-lipoic acid, and a lower level of protection with vitamins and Selenium. The conclusions of the study underline the importance of implementing educational programs in order to provide a more extended use of protection devices in industrial noisy environments and the efficacy of the antioxidant preventive therapy for professionals whose hearing is essential in order to accomplish their work.