[Noise pollution in the working environment]

NOISE POLLUTION IN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT. Hearing damage due to exposure to noise in the workplace has been recognised as a professional disease since 1963. It first manifests itself as auditory fatigue, which can be assessed by Echoscan and which requires preventive measures, before bilateral hearing loss sets in, usually symmetrical, initially producing a very characteristic auditory scotoma centred on the 4000 Hz frequency. This irreversible hearing loss may be accompanied by tinnitus, more rarely by hyperacusis, as well as other extra-auditory manifestations: stress, high blood pressure or sleep disorders. The regulations aimed at protecting workers against noise trauma impose collective measures, the wearing of individual protectors and, above all, hearing monitoring every two years. Recognition as a professional disease of hearing damage resulting from professional exposure to noise damage enables the worker to be compensated and to be helped in the acquisition of hearing aids, if prescribed.