Risk of Hearing Impairment Among Employees Using Communication Headsets

The aim of the study was to assess the noise exposure and risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among workers using communication headsets or headphones. Noise measurements and questionnaire surveys were carried out in 74 workers, including military aviation personnel (n=12), transcribers (n=18) and call center operators (n=44). Sound pressure levels under communication headsets or headphones were determined using the MIRE technique as specified by the ISO 11904-1:2004 standard. The background noise levels were also measured according to ISO 9612:2009. The risk of NIHL was evaluated using method described in the ISO 1999:2013 standard. It was found that communication headsets and headphones generated noise at the diffuse-field related A-weighted equivalent-continuous sound pressure level of 67-86 dB (10-90th percentile), while background noise level ranged from 54 to 79 dB (10-90th percentile). According to responses to the questionnaire, the study subjects used headsets or headphones from 1.5 to 8 hours (10-90th percentile) per day. Subsequently, individual daily noise exposure levels remained in the range of 71 to 85 dB (10-90th percentile. Such noise exposures over 20 years of employment cause the risk of NIHL (expressed as mean hearing threshold level for 2, 3 and 4 kHz > 25 dB) up to 17%.