To assess effect of noise on hearing ability of bus drivers by audiometry

The present study was planned to assess the noise levels to which the drivers from State Transport Sangli Depot., are exposed during their duty hours and to explore the effects of high intensity noise of their hearing ability by audiometric examination. The study was done both in study and control group. Noise levels were measured in the driver's cabin and in the working place of the controls which ranged from 89 to 106 dB and 50 to 62 dB respectively. Audiometric examinations were performed in the study and control groups. 89% of the drivers and 19% from the control group showed abnormal audiograms.