Abstract

Background: Noise is one of the most prevalent physically harmful factors in working environment which can cause many problems that one of them is hearing loss. Therefore the aim of this study was assessing occupational exposure with sound (noise) in training workshops of Technical and Vocational Organization of Ilam and determining the rate of change in hearing threshold of people working in these workshops. Materials and methods: a cross-sectional study was done on 60 people which working in 8 workshops of Technical and Vocational Organization of Ilam which are selected by census report. Demographic data of studied people is collected using researcher-made check list and measuring overall balance of sound level meter set model 450 is used. Changes in hearing threshold of people are assessed using audiometer. Finally data are analyzed using SPSS. 20 by conduct Spearman correlation and Pearson’s correlation statistical tests in significant level of 0.05. Results: Results show that there have been 8.62 dB change in hearing threshold of left ear, 8.73dB in right ear and 6.74 dB in both ears of studied people averagely. The highest level of sound pressure balance is related to cutting-wood workshop and the Equivalent exposure level (Leq) is more than national standard level (85dB) in mosaic, lapidary and wielding workshops. Spearman correlation test shows a significant relationship between the highest level of sound balance in welding workshop (112dB) and the average total loss (8.15dB) for both ears (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings of this study there is an urgent need for monitoring, assessing and control of other workshops of Ilam Technical and Vocational Organization in order to investigate overall balance of sound and change in hearing threshold of people working in the workshops. © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.