[Peculiarities of differential diagnosis of occupational neurosensory loss of hearing in the flight personnel of civilian aviation]

Abstract

The author discusses the main aspects of differential diagnosis of occupational neurosensory deafness in the flight personnel of civilian aviation. Taken together, specific working conditions in civil aviation, socio-economic factors, and the structure of morbidity among the flight personnel hinder differential diagnosis of occupational loss of hearing in the pilots. A method for retrospective analysis of dynamic audiometry data is proposed to elucidate pathogenesis of occupational neurosensory deafness in the flight personnel. The method is based on the analysis of results of clinical and audiologic studies taking into consideration concomitant pathology (if any), age-related changes in the health status, intra-cabin aircraft noise characteristics, and objective evaluation of noise load on the organ of hearing during the entire period of professional occupation of individual members of the flight personnel. It is concluded that introduction of this method into routine practice of medical examination of the flight personnel in civilian aviation may contribute to the lowering of the frequency of hyperdiagnosis of occupational deafness in this category of workers.