Chris Sames1,2, Desmond F Gorman1,3, Simon J Mitchell1,4, Lifeng Zhou5. 1. Slark Hyperbaric Unit, Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand. 2. Corresponding author: Chris Sames, Slark Hyperbaric Unit, Waitemata District Health Board, PO Box 32051, Devonport, Auckland 0744, New Zealand, chris.sames@waitematadhb.govt.nz. 3. Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland. 4. Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Auckland. 5. Health Funding and Outcomes, Waitemata and Auckland District Health Boards, Auckland.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Surveillance of professional divers' hearing is routinely undertaken on an annual basis despite lack of evidence of benefit to the diver. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude and significance of changes in auditory function over a 10-25 year period of occupational diving with the intention of informing future health surveillance policy for professional divers. METHODS: All divers with adequate audiological records spanning at least 10 years were identified from the New Zealand occupational diver database. Changes in auditory function over time were compared with internationally accepted normative values. Any significant changes were tested for correlation with diving exposure, smoking history and body mass index. RESULTS: The audiological records of 227 professional divers were analysed for periods ranging from 10 to 25 years. Initial hearing was poorer than population norms, and deterioration over the observation period was less than that predicted by normative data. Changes in hearing were not related to diving exposure, or smoking history. CONCLUSION: Audiological changes over 10 to 25 years of occupational diving were not found to be significantly different from age-related changes. Routine annual audiological testing of professional divers does not appear to be justifiable. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms.
INTRODUCTION: Surveillance of professional divers' hearing is routinely undertaken on an annual basis despite lack of evidence of benefit to the diver. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude and significance of changes in auditory function over a 10-25 year period of occupational diving with the intention of informing future health surveillance policy for professional divers. METHODS: All divers with adequate audiological records spanning at least 10 years were identified from the New Zealand occupational diver database. Changes in auditory function over time were compared with internationally accepted normative values. Any significant changes were tested for correlation with diving exposure, smoking history and body mass index. RESULTS: The audiological records of 227 professional divers were analysed for periods ranging from 10 to 25 years. Initial hearing was poorer than population norms, and deterioration over the observation period was less than that predicted by normative data. Changes in hearing were not related to diving exposure, or smoking history. CONCLUSION: Audiological changes over 10 to 25 years of occupational diving were not found to be significantly different from age-related changes. Routine annual audiological testing of professional divers does not appear to be justifiable. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms.
Authors: Thijs T Wingelaar; Edwin L Endert; Rigo Hoencamp; Peter-Jan Am van Ooij; Rob A van Hulst Journal: Diving Hyperb Med Date: 2019-12-20 Impact factor: 0.887
Authors: Thijs T Wingelaar; Leonie Bakker; Frank J Nap; Pieter-Jan A M van Ooij; Edwin L Endert; Rob A van Hulst Journal: Front Physiol Date: 2021-01-06 Impact factor: 4.566