Behieh Kohansal
Arak University of Medical Sciences, IranTitle: Occupational Noise-Induced Tinnitus: A Review of Auditory Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evaluations
Abstract
Background and Aim:
The increasing prevalence of Noise-Induced Tinnitus (NIT) is considered one of
the major occupational health threats these days. Despite the devastating effect of tinnitus on a subject’s
performance, auditory functions and life quality, there is a lack of standard protocol for its diagnosis and
management. Furthermore, the mechanisms of NIT are not clear yet. So, this review summarized data on
NIT mechanisms as well as questionnaires, behavioral and physiologic assessment tools in NIT studies.
Recent Findings:
Based on the authors’ research, 27 eligible articles were included in this review. NIT
was mainly bilateral with moderate severity with an overall prevalence ranging from 4% to 73.7%. Self
report questionnaires, tinnitus handicap inventory, auditory brainstem response, otoacoustic emissions and
speech in noise tests were the most frequent NIT assessment methods in the reviewed studies. Our review
highlights increased latencies in brainstem evoked potentials in tinnitus workers, but the knowledge gap
about changes at subcortical and cortical levels remains.
Conclusion:
This review suggests speech in noise test as a useful extension to routine tinnitus assessment
by questionnaires among workers. Due to insufficient studies and inconsistent results in NIT subjects, more
electrophysiological research is suggested in large and homogeneous samples.
Keywords: Noise; tinnitus; occupational; questionnaire; physiological
Biography
I have completed Master of Science in Audiology at the age of 23 years from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. I have been working as a faculty member form 2015.Curently, I am the head of Audiology department in school of rehabilitation, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. I have 8 publications in recent years, and my publication h-index is 1. I have been a member of Scientific Committee of Iranian Association of Audiology from 2021. I am extremely passionate about Tinnitus, Auditory Evoked Potentials, Neuroscience as well as auditory problems in CKD patients