Abstract
Screening audiometry, measuring right and left hearing at 1 and 4 kHz is a legally required part of the screening health examination for workers in Japan. The goals of this study are to analyze the reliability of screening audiometry, and to define a method for detecting auditory disturbances utilizing these results.
We collected audiometry data in both a silent office room and in a sound-proof room utilizing the screening audiometry test and a fundamental audiometry, and then compared the results. The results coincided in more than 90% of the cases, which may suggest screening audiometry is highly reliable. In addition, we selected cases suspected of having hearing loss by the presence of three or more positive findings on four tests (right 1 and 4 kHz, and left 1 and 4 kHz examination). We found more than 90% of cases had some kind of middle or inner ear disease.
Screening audiometry is useful for detecting auditory diseases and may possibly contribute to preventing workers' hearing disturbances.
