An Audiological Care of Industrial Noise – Induced Hearing Loss in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper studied “an audiological care for industrial noise-induced hearing loss in Nigeria”. An experimental research design was used. Twenty workers were purposively selected from forge and management units of Nigeria machine tools, Oshogbo as research subjects. The instruments (workers clerking sheet, diagnostic report sheet, audiometer, audiogram, auriscope, Jobson Horne probe, tuning fork) were validated and they are reliable because medical doctors (otorhinolaryngologists) in the Ear Nose and Throat Department of University Teaching Hospital Ilorin had been using them for diagnosing and treating patients with hearing problems. Direct audiometric diagnosis was used to collect hearing capability levels and hearing problems for use. Based on the levels of problems detected, experiments were conducted, after five days of application of olive oil to the ear with wax, and removing same with Jobson Horne Probe, hearing efficiency of such workers changed from bilateral hearing loss to normal hearing capability for worker in an administrative unit. The workers who had moderate hearing loss changed to mild hearing loss. Based on the result, it was recommended among others that workers in steel industries be given ear muffs to wear to protect their efficiency.