The Effects of Occupational Ultrasonic Noise Exposure on Hearing in Dental Hygienists: A Pilot Study

<p>The purpose of this case-control study was to determine whether long-term ultrasonic noise exposure via the dental office environment is related to dental hygienists' hearing status. Registered dental hygienists (N = 698) who live in the Hampton Roads area were mailed a <em>Dental Hygiene Work History Questionnaire</em>to determine those meeting the inclusion criteria and willing to participate in the study. Consenting subjects were categorized into one of two groups according to ultrasonic scaler usage rate and matched on age. Persons with known hearing loss due to infection, disease, or congenital defect were excluded from the study. The final sample consisted of 20 dental hygienists with a high ultrasonic usage rate and a matched group of 20 dental hygienists who had a low ultrasonic usage rate. Once the groups were formed, a certified audiologist tested subjects' hearing in each ear via the pure-tone audiometer and tympanogram.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Dental Hygiene

Year dc:date.available

2001

Author dc:creator

• Dunning, Jennifer S.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Michele L. Darby
• Joseph Sever
• Susan Lynn Tolle-Watts

• Dental care
• Audiology
• Occupational safety
• Dentistry
• Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene
• Speech Pathology and Audiology

Statement dc:rights

• <p>In Copyright. URI: <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).</p>

Identifier

978049356365

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.odu.edu:dentalhygiene_etds-1012