Bhaghwat Kumar¹ and Sweety Rani Boro²*

¹Audiologist and Speech- Language Pathologist, Department of ENT, Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur, India ²Assistant Professor, Department of Speech and Hearing, International Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences and Research, Bhubaneswar, India

*Corresponding Author: Sweety Rani Boro, Assistant Professor, Department of Speech and Hearing, International Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences and Research, Bhubaneswar, India.

Received: June 24, 2025; Published: July 13, 2025

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated awareness and experiences related to occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among 60 industrial workers in Hyderabad, drawn equally from large-scale, small-scale, and construction industries.

Methodology: Participants, aged 25 to 60 with over five years of work experience, completed a validated questionnaire assessing knowledge of noise, hearing conservation practices, and the auditory and non-auditory effects of noise exposure.

Result: Findings revealed that while all workers understood what noise is and 95% were exposed to high noise levels for at least 8 hours daily, less than 50% underwent regular hearing evaluations. Awareness of hearing conservation measures and ear protective devices (EPDs) was moderate, but consistent use remained limited. Only 68.33% used EPDs regularly, despite 80% being aware of them and 73.33% being encouraged to wear them. Auditory effects were commonly reported, with 83.33% experiencing hearing changes after work and only 51.66% reporting recovery after rest. Tinnitus was reported by 10% of workers. Construction workers were the least aware and least protected, while large- and small-scale industry workers showed similar, higher levels of awareness and practice. Non-auditory effects such as sleep disturbance, heart rate and breathing changes, irritation, and reduced performance were rare across all industries.

Conclusion: The study emphasizes the need for stronger awareness programs, consistent use of hearing protection, regular screenings, and effective enforcement of noise safety regulations to reduce the impact of NIHL in industrial settings.

Keywords: NIHL; Questionnaire; Awareness; Industrial Workers, Auditory Effects; Non-Auditory Effects; EPDs

References

1. Kryter Karl D. “The Effects of Noise on Man”. (1970).
2. Kryter Karl D. “The Handbook of Hearing and the Effects of Noise : Physiology, Psychology, and Public Health”. San Diego, Academic Press, (1994).
3. Tempest W. “The Noise Handbook”. (1985).
4. Roland NJ., et al. “Key Topics in Otolaryngology”. 1 Jan. (2001).
5. Dobie Robert A. “Medical-Legal Evaluation of Hearing Loss”. San Diego, Ca, Plural Publishing, Inc, (2016).
6. Omer Ahmed Hafiz. “Noise Exposure, Awareness, Practice and Noise Annoyance among Steel Workers in United Arab Emirates”. The Open Public Health Journal1 (2012): 28-35.
7. , et al. “Noise Measurement and Awareness at Construction Site – a Case Study - Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Institutional Repository”. Eprints.utm.my, (2017).
8. “Noise and hearing loss”. Consensus statement. National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference 8.1 (1990): 1-24.
9. http://eprints.utm.my/80427/1/MohamadZakiHassan2017_NoiseMeasurementandAwarenessatConstruction.pdf
10. Thurston Floyd E. “The Worker’s Ear: A History of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss”. American Journal of Industrial Medicine 3 (2012): 367-377.

Citation

Citation: Bhaghwat Kumar and Sweety Rani Boro. “Awareness About Noise and its Effects Among Industrial Workers in Hyderabad".Acta Scientific Otolaryngology 7.8 (2025): 21-26.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Bhaghwat Kumar and Sweety Rani Boro. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.