A survey of noise-induced auditory symptoms in manufacturing workers in Brunei Darussalam

Noise-induced auditory symptoms (NIASs) refer to symptoms that develop after exposure to loud noise, where common symptoms are tinnitus and hearing difficulty. If not detected early or prevented, NIASs may lead to the development of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence rate of common NIASs and contributing occupational factors among manufacturing workers in Brunei Darussalam. The response rate for this study was 81.7%. The prevalence rate of NIASs was 18% and the most commonly reported symptom was 'ears feeling full after leaving a very noisy place' (10.5%). This study showed a strong association between the absence of hearing protective device use (adjusted odds ratio = 2.118, p = 0.040) and having at least one reported NIAS. The study findings can be used to plan and implement policies where there is a risk of occupational noise exposure to prevent NIASs and further development of NIHL.