[Principal mistakes in expert and diagnostic evaluation of the relationship between noise exposure and ear diseases]

The problem of hearing impairment is considered with special reference to subjects exposed to intense occupational noise. The place of this clinical condition in the overall structure of occupational diseases is discussed with special reference to physical factors of the technological environment responsible for its development. The current untoward situation is underlain not only by imperfections of modern technological processes, inadequate labour protection and industrial hygiene policies, and poor organization of <> manufacturing activities. It is also attributable to the low quality of medicinal-prophylactic examination at the stage of acceptance for employment and the lack of adequate periodic medical monitoring during the subsequent period. This, in turn, is a result of insufficient knowledge of health professionals about methods of prevention, diagnosis, and assessment of occupational loss of hearing. The main mistakes in the analysis of the relationship between the prevalence of ear diseases and the exposure to occupational noise are divided into organizational, diagnostic, expert, and deontological ones. Characteristics of these mistakes and their causes are described.