Auditory Effects due to Occupational Noise Exposure in Selected Industries in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Exposure to high levels of noise causes physiological and psychological effects such as hearing loss, fatigue and reduction in performance. This study was aimed to evaluate the auditory effects of exposure to different levels of occupational noise in some industries in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Results indicated that 97% of the 33 examined workers, representing three factories were exposed to high noise levels (Leq), – greater than the recommended standard (85 dBA / 8hrs-day) in Saudi Arabia. Of those workers, 76% didn’t wear any hearing protectors. Hearing loss was developed mostly after the first ten years of employment in 20% of workers. Audiometric examinations of the studied workers showed that 6% had severe hearing loss at high frequencies of 4 kHz and 8 kHz. Moderately severe to mild hearing loss was observed both at high (4 kHz-8 kHz) and low (250 Hz-500 Hz) frequencies. There was a strong positive significant correlation between hearing loss and noise dose, age, and duration of exposure.