Assessment of Cognitive Performance and Hearing Impairment of Indian Power Loom Employees through...

Industrial noise exposure can jeopardise safety by disrupting communication and alarms, leading to occupational errors.

This study examines the impact of chronic noise exposure on the hearing and cognitive abilities of power loom workers.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) signal analysis and auditory assessment were performed on 40 power loom workers and 15 control participants. The cognitive performance of power loom personnel was examined in environments with and without noise. Power spectra values from theta, alpha and beta activity were analysed from EEG signals to assess cognitive load, stress and attention levels.

Pure tone audiometry results showed that 68%, 21% and 11% of power loom workers had a serious, moderate and mild hearing impairment, respectively. Additionally, the performance of power loom workers in the Stroop colour and word test cognitive task was evaluated, reflecting a substantial 28% drop in response accuracy between the power loom workers and the control group with a significant P-value (H = 233.91, P < 0.01). In noise-free conditions, a higher alpha (M = 12.45, SD = 2.34) was observed together with a decreased beta (M = 8.67, SD = 1.89) and theta-to-alpha ratio (M = 0.45, SD = 0.12), indicating enhanced attention and reduced mental burden and stress. On the contrary, when faced with noise, workers exhibited decreased alpha power, increased beta power and higher theta-to-alpha ratio, indicating distraction, higher stress and cognitive strain.

Continuous exposure to high noise levels affects the hearing ability and cognitive performance of power loom workers.