Analyzing the relationship between distortion product otoacoustic emissions and pure tone audiometry in noise-exposed workers

Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship between distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) test and pure tone audiometry (PTA), and the application of DPOAE test in occupational health inspection of noise-exposed work.

Methods Using the judgment sampling method, 510 noise-exposed workers in an automobile engine factory were selected as the observation group. The observation group was divided into 5 subgroups according to the characteristics of PTA threshold and frequency of hearing loss. Another 50 non-noise-exposed workers in the factory were selected as the control group. DPOAE and PTA were used to detect the pure tone hearing threshold and DPOAE amplitude, signal-to-noise ratio and pass rate of each frequency in the two groups of workers.

Results At 0.5-6.0 kHz, the pure tone hearing threshold value of each subgroup was higher than the control group (all P<0.05). At 3.0-6.0 kHz, the DPOAE amplitude and signal-to noise ratio of each subgroup were lower than that of the control group (all P<0.05). At 1.5 kHz, the pass rate of DPOAE in subgroup 1, subgroup 2 and subgroup 3 were higher than the control group (all P<0.05). At 2.0-6.0 kHz, the pass rate of DPOAE in subgroup 4 and subgroup 5 were lower than the control group (all P<0.05). The area receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the observation subgroups and control group were 0.71-1.00 by the PTA. The AUC values of the observation subgroups and control group were 0.57-0.97 by DPOAE. The AUC value in subgroup 5 and control group had a significant difference between the two examination methods ( P< 0.01); while the subgroup 1, subgroup 2, subgroup 3, subgroup 4 and control group were no significant differences respectively (all P>0.05).

Conclusion DPOAE is easy to operate and can objectively reflect the hearing level of workers exposed to noise. It can be used as a supplementary means of PTA and applied to occupational health examination and hearing monitoring screening.

Abstract

摘要： 目的 探讨畸变产物耳声发射(DPOAE)测试与纯音测听的关系, 以及DPOAE测试在噪声作业职业健康检査中的 应用。 方法 采用判断抽样方法, 选择某汽车发动机厂 510 名噪声作业工人为观察组, 观察组人群根据纯音测听单耳听 阈值以及听力损失频率的特点分为 5 个观察亚组;另选择该厂 50 名非噪声作业工人为对照组。采用DPOAE和纯音测听 检査检测 2 组人群各频率的纯音听阈及DPOAE的幅值、信噪比、通过率。 结果 在 0.5 ~ 6.0 kHz, 5 个观察亚组人群的纯 音听阈值均髙于对照组 ( P 值均<0.05) 在 3.0 ~ 6.0 kHz, 5 个观察亚组人群的DPOAE信号幅值和信噪比分别低于对照组 ( P 值均<0.05)。在 1.5 kHz, 观察亚组 1、观察亚组 2 和观察亚组 3 人群的 DPOAE 检査通过率均髙于对照组 ( P 值均<0.05); 在2.0 ~ 6.0 kHz, 观察亚组 4 和观察亚组 5 人群的DPOAE检査通过率均低于对照组 ( P 值均<0.05)。采用纯音测听 检査方法, 各观察亚组与对照组人群的工作特征曲线下的面积 (AUC) 值为 0.71 ~ 1.00; 采用DPOAE检査方法, 各观察亚 组与对照组人群的AUC值为 0.57 ~ 0.97; 2 种检査方法的 AUC 值比较, 观察亚组 1、观察亚组 2、观察亚组 3、观察亚组 4 分 别与对照组比较, 差异均无统计学意义 ( P 值均>0.05); 仅观察亚组 5 与对照组比较, 差异有统计学意义 ( P<0.01)。 结论 DPOAE 检査操作便捷, 可客观反映噪声作业工人的听力水平, 可作为纯音测听检査的补充检査手段, 应用于职业健康检 査与听力监测筛査。