High-frequency hearing risk of operators of industrial ultrasonic devices

Sound and ultrasound emitted by industrial ultrasonic (Uls) devices exceed the known proposed hygienic limits, especially for frequencies 10-20 kHz. The consequence of this may be a negative influence of this energy on the auditory function in the high-frequency hearing range. To determine the hearing risk to Uls operators, an adequate method for testing the hearing threshold from 10-20 kHz has been developed. In order to get reference values, 189 non-exposed persons were tested. On this basis, the hearing thresholds of 55 operators for frequencies 500-20,000 Hz were evaluated. In addition to threshold elevations in the range 10-20 kHz, a decreasing number of subjects responding to stimuli at the highest audible frequencies was observed. The threshold shift at 10-20 kHz of subjects exposed to sound and ultrasound emitted by Uls-devices depends upon the physical parameters of the sound spectrum, time on the job and daily exposure time. No abnormalities were found in the hearing range 500-8000 Hz.