Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

Semi-Automated Analysis of Peak Amplitude and Latency for Auditory Brainstem Response Waveforms Using R
Published on: December 9, 2022
[Analysis of audiometric data as a contribution to the noise risk assessment]
A Serra1, R Bardino, C Maugeri Saccà
1Medico Competente Università di Sassari, via Matteotti, 60-07100 Sassari, Italy. antserra@uniss.it
Methods:
We have matched the annual rate of change for average of at 3, 4 and 3-4 kHz between 2617 workers of 15 Italian thermoelectric power plants exposed to noise and 90 workers non-exposed (ANCOVA test controlling for relevant confounders: age and high frequency hearing threshold level).
Results:
Overall, workers exposed to noise did not show a statistically significant hearing loss (F: 1.03 p = 0.30 for 4-6 kHz). Five subgroups in two power plants showed a significant hearing loss suggesting a specific re-evaluation of prevention strategies
Conclusions:
The statistical analysis of hearing loss progression in a population of workers exposed to noise can be an effective instrument of occupational risk assessment and monitoring of the effectiveness of prevention strategies.

