[Occupational hearing loss: new diagnostic opportunities]

Noise-induced hearing loss together with presbyacusis are the most frequent causes of the disorders of the inner ear among adults. The authors present briefly epidemiological, diagnostic and certification aspects of this issue. Their attention was mainly focused on the role of objective methods of hearing examinations (impedance audiometry, brainstem electric response audiometry, recording of otoacoustic emissions) in diagnostic procedures. A growing significance of these methods, especially in frequent cases of the aggravation and simulation among persons who claim for certification of occupational noise-induced hearing loss, was highlighted.