Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2013 Apr;17(2):208-12.
doi: 10.7162/S1809-97772013000200015.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL): literature review with a focus on occupational medicine

Mirella Melo Metidieri  1 , Hugo Fernandes Santos Rodrigues  1 , Francisco José Motta Barros de Oliveira Filho  1 , Daniela Pereira Ferraz  1 , Antonio Fausto de Almeida Neto  1 , Sandro Torres  2
Affiliations
Review

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL): literature review with a focus on occupational medicine

Mirella Melo Metidieri et al. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2013 Apr.

Abstract

According to the Ministry of Health (2006), Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is hearing loss caused by prolonged exposure to noise. It is characterized as sensorineural hearing loss and is usually bilateral, irreversible, and progressive while the exposure to noise continues. A NIHL is a predictable and preventable disease with an epidemiologically relevant prevalence in urban communities. The hearing loss begins and predominates in the frequencies of 3, 4, and 6 kHz and eventually progresses to 8, 2, 1, 0.5, and 0.25 kHz. In Brazil, regulatory standard 15 limits the exposure to continuous noise to no more than 4 hours' exposure to 90 dBA and a maximum level of 85 dB for a full 8-hour working period. As NIHL is a preventable and predictable disease, preventive action by professionals may be able to change the prevalence of hearing loss in noisy environments.

Keywords: hearing loss; noise; noise-induced; occupational.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Bamford J Saunders E Hearing impairment, auditory perception and language disability 2 ed. San Diego, California: Singular Publishing Group; 1991
    1. Bergström B, Nyström B. Development of hearing loss during long term exposure to occupational noise. Scand Audiol. 1986;15(4):227–34. - PubMed
    1. Brito V PS. [Goiania]: CEFAC: Centro de Especialização em Fonoaudiologia Clínica; 1999. Incidência de Perda Auditiva Induzida por Ruído em Trabalhadores de uma Fábrica [thesis]
    1. Carnicelli M VF. [São Paulo]: Pontifícia Universidade Católica; 1988. Audiologia preventiva voltada à saúde do trabalhador: organização e desenvolvimento de um programa audiológico numa indústria têxtil da cidade de São Paulo [thesis]
    1. Fiorini A C, Nascimento P ES. Rio de Janeiro: Revinter; 2001. Programa de Prevenção de Perdas Auditivas.