KUMJ | VOL. 9 | NO. 4 | ISSUE 36 | OCT-DEC, 2011

Prevalnace of Noise Induced Hearing Loss among Traffic Police Personnel of Kathmandu Metropolitan City
Shrestha I, Shrestha BL, Pokharel M, Amatya RCM, Karki DR

Background

Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a major preventable occupational health

hazard.

Objective

To measure permanent threshold shift in traffic police personnel due to noise

exposure and to examine whether it was associated with duration of noise

exposure, years of work and risk factors.

Methods

Cross sectional, descriptive study conducted at Dhulikhel hospital, Kathmandu

University Hospital in 110 responding traffic police personnel. Detailed history and

clinical examination of ear, impedence audiometry and pure tone audiometry was

performed.

Results

Mean age group was 29.82 years; 82(74.5%) were males and 28 (25.5%) were

females. Mean duration of service is 11.86 years. Twenty six (23.6%) had tinnitus

and 39(35.5%) had blocked sensation in ear. Sixty five (59.1%) worked between 10-

19 years. Alcohol and smoking shows positive impact on NIHL (p value =0.00). Odds

ratio with 95% confidence interval were 4.481 (1.925-10.432) and 6.578 (2.306-

18.764) respectively. Among 73(66.4%) noise induced hearing loss positive cases,

bilateral involvement was seen in 45 (40.9%) and unilateral in 28(25.4 %) cases.

Among unilateral cases most were left sided. Hearing threshold at 4 kHz increased

according to age and duration of service.

Conclusion

Traffic police personnel are in constant risk of noise induced hearing loss. Screening

for hearing loss is recommended for people exposed to noise.