Occupational Hearing Loss in the Intensive Care Unit: A Comparative Study Between ICU and Non-ICU Nursing Staff

Occupational exposure to sustained high-noise levels in intensive care units (ICUs) could pose significant auditory health risks for healthcare professionals.

This investigation evaluates the prevalence and characteristics of hearing impairment among nursing staff working in an intensive care unit (ICU) versus non-ICU environments within Chinese healthcare facilities.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at a hospital in Chongqing, China. Participants underwent comprehensive audiological assessments including pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and Chinese digits-in-noise (DIN) (testing for speech reception thresholds (SRT)). Statistical analyses employed univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to identify independent predictors of hearing impairment.

A total of 93 registered nurses (45 ICU and 48 non-ICU) were included in the final analysis. ICU nurses demonstrated significantly worse hearing thresholds compared to non-ICU counterparts, particularly at high frequencies (4-8 kHz). Approximately 20% of ICU nurses exhibited hearing loss (> 25 dB HL) at high frequencies, compared to 10% in non-ICU settings. Working in ICU environments (adjusted OR = 2.82, 95% CI: 1.25-6.35), working 50-60 h per week (adjusted OR = 4.15, 95% CI: 1.18-14.60), and working more than 60 h per week (adjusted OR = 5.85, 95% CI: 1.55-22.10) emerged as significant independent predictors of hearing impairment. Speech reception thresholds were significantly poorer among ICU nurses (p < 0.05), with PTA thresholds showing a strong correlation with SRT performance (r = 0.824, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis identified 2 kHz as the most critical frequency contributing to speech understanding in noise for both groups.

This study provides compelling evidence of elevated hearing impairment risk among ICU nurses compared to non-ICU nursing staff in China. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted occupational health interventions and hearing conservation programmes for nursing staff working in high-noise environments.

This study emphasises the necessity of targeted occupational health measures for ICU nurses, particularly those with prolonged working hours. Clinical protocols should prioritise monitoring high-frequency hearing thresholds and incorporating speech-in-noise assessments to detect functional deficits. Furthermore, implementing workload management strategies is essential to mitigate the dose-response risk of noise exposure and preserve nurses' long-term auditory health.