Surveillance of Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: The Current Situation in Thailand
Surveillance of Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: The Current Situation in Thailand
AbstractDuring 2011-2015, 101 cases
of occupational noise-induced
hearing loss (ONIHL) were diagnosed in Thailand. Among them, 37 cases were compensated
by the Thai
compensation fund. This
is a case report to reflect the Thailand
situation of ONIHL in occupational settings. Only a few companies in
Thailand have adopted the
annual audiometric test with baseline audiograms and retests, refer their employees to
occupational physicians to diagnose its feasibility of occupational
disease. Proper baseline revisions were
not performed, which
resulted in over-investigation (retests) and
unnecessary referrals. Screening protocols for
Hearing Conservative Programs (HCPs) were not performed properly. Occupational noise-induced hearing loss is extremely under diagnosed
in Thailand.
Keywords: Audiometric test, Noise-induced hearing
loss, Occupational Health,
Occupational noise, Significant threshold shift, Thailand
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