Abstract:
This research was aimed to explore the relationship between working in a
hyperbaric chamber and hearing ability among the Royal Thai Navy underwater
medicine nurses. A cross sectional descriptive design was used in this study. The
subjects were divided into two groups: 48 nurses who were worked in the hyperbaric
chamber as the exposure group and the other 48 nurses who did not work in the
hyperbaric chamber as the non exposure group. Data were collected by 5 tools:
Questionnaire, Noise Dosimeter, Barometer, Audiometer, and Otoscope.
The result of this study indicated that the study group has an average of 12.2
years work experience , the number of work hours per year was 81.30 hours, the time
weighted average (TLV-TWA) noise exposure in the hyperbaric chamber at 2.4 atm.
was 85 dBA. The hearing ability checked by an otoscope showed that 91.70 percent of
the study group had no inflammation in tympanic membrane but 8.30 percent of the
study group had an inflammation level Teed 1 and the hearing loss appeared in the
working hour rate was between 78.18 to 81.30 hours/ year.
Among the exposure group, the mean hearing threshold by air and bone
conduction was higher than the control group at every frequencies . The average was
hearing threshold by air conduction was significantly higher than bone conduction
(p < 0.05). This was the air conduction hearing loss type at high frequencies (2000
8000 Hz.) with the mean of hearing threshold was 25.87 dB
There should be protection of hearing loss among the workers. This may be
done by using ear plugs or ear muffs during work. Moreover, there should be a
continuing surveillance to prevent degenerative diseases of the ear among nurses
working in the hyperbaric chamber.