Volume 13, Issue 1 (6-2025)                   jmsthums 2025, 13(1): 59-69 | Back to browse issues page


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A A M, M G, M M, Gh T, Kh G K. Investigating the hearing threshold changes among heavy machinery drivers from 2018 to 2023. jmsthums 2025; 13 (1) :59-69
URL: http://jms.thums.ac.ir/article-1-1403-en.html
1- Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, Esfarayen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen, Iran
2- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3- Department of public health, Esfarayen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen, Iran
4- Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, School of Health, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
Abstract:   (632 Views)
Background & Aim: Drivers of light, medium and heavy vehicles constitute an occupational group that is highly exposed to noise. The present study aimed to investigate the changes in hearing thresholds due to exposure to noise and to determine the level of hearing loss in drivers of intercity vehicles.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study examined occupational health records of truck and passenger vehicle drivers in Esfarayen City from 2018 to 2023. In this study, 101 intercity drivers who had audiometry records in these two years were randomly selected. The audiometry tests of drivers were recorded and data were analyzed by means of SPSS software version 25 using Independent t-test, paired t-test, correlation coefficient, and linear regression.
Results: The findings showed that hearing loss in truck drivers was significantly associated with demographic factors such as age, BMI, and systolic blood pressure. Also, the comparison of hearing loss in 2018 and 2023 showed that hearing loss increased in both truck and passenger driver groups after five years, however, no significant difference was observed in overall hearing loss between the two groups.
Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the average hearing loss of the drivers is at a desirable level. Although hearing loss has increased significantly in 2023 compared to 2018, periodic monitoring of hearing health and training in the prevention of hearing damage are essential for drivers.
Full-Text [PDF 329 kb]   (458 Downloads)    
Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2025/02/6 | Accepted: 2025/06/8 | Published: 2025/06/30

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