INDUSTRIAL NOISE EXPOSURE AND WORK-RELATED STRESS AS PREDICTORS OF AUDITORY PERFORMANCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF INDUSTRIAL WORKERS IN IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Noise is a health-threatening phenomenon, which often affects health, safety, and efficiency of people at workplace, home, and socio-educational gatherings. Therefore, exposure to this noise and work-related stress has been observed to have deleterious effect on the auditory performance and psychological wellbeing of industrial workers. The study investigated the influence of industrial noise and work-related stress on the auditory performance and psychological well-being of factory workers in Ibadan. The study adopted a survey research design, and purposively sampled 304 industrial workers through the use of a self-developed questionnaire titled ‘Influence of Industrial Noise Exposure and Work-Related Scale’, with a reliability coefficient of 0.76. Afterwards, all the participants were audiologically examined via Pure-Tone Audiometric Assessment (PTA). Data generated were analysed using frequency counts, percentage, mean and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). 206 (67.8%) participants who were audiologically tested presented with different types and patterns of hearing loss, as 130 (47.0%) of the participants had high frequency hearing loss in the right ear, while 150(54.6%) had same in the left ear. Also, 90 (33.0%) of the participants had mild hearing loss in the right ear, while 80 (29.0%) had same in the left ear. 188 (61.8%) of the participants reported difficulty in hearing when someone speaks in a whisper or at a very low voice. 216 (71.1%) of the participants claimed that they frequently change their phone from one ear to another when receiving calls via mobile phone. 181 (59.5%) of the participants admitted that they hear better in one ear than the other. Further findings revealed that 179 (58.9%) of the participants do have difficulty hearing as well as understanding their fellow co-workers, clients or customers whenever engaging in conversation. 163 (53.6%) of the participants agreed that they always tune up to high volume when using mobile phone, TV or Radio. Consequently, reduced auditory performance and poor psychological wellbeing have been found to be associated with industrial noise exposure and work-related stress among industrial workers in Ibadan. Therefore, the study recommends periodic audiological evaluation, appropriate use of hearing protective devices, regular public awareness on effects of work-related stress on quality of life as well as the psychological well-being. Government should ensure that industrial firms adhere strictly to health and safety policies, hearing conservation protocols, and regular medical check-ups. Working hours at various industrial firms should be reduced to allow for adequate rest and off-duty relaxation as well as physical exercise to prevent unnecessary fatigue, reduced auditory performance and poor psychological well-being.

Keywords: Auditory performance, factory workers, hearing loss and conservation, industrial noise exposure, psychological well-being, work-related stress.

REFERENCES

Adesokan, A. E., & Osisanya, A. (2019). Health and Psychosocial Effects of Traffic Noise on Auditory Performance of Commercial Drivers in Ibadan Metropolis. International Journal of Medical Science and Health Research, 3(5): 23-39 

ASHA (2016). Scope of practice in speech – language pathology. Available from www.asha.org/policy.  

Bagai, A., Thavendiranathan, P., & Detsty, A. S. (2006). Does this patient have hearing impairment?   JAMA 2006;295.4:416.28

Bakare, C. A. (2013). Hearing disorders; symptoms, diagnosis, management. Book builders. Pp74

Bruce. D. (2008). How much can noise affect your worker’s productivity. Retrieved November 29, 2018 from http://www.office-sound-masking.com/2018/11/29

Boundles (2016). Sensory Receptors: Anatomy and physiology – human learning. https://courses. Lumenlearning.com

Boulton, N. (2013). Art Google Conference. Camera event in the Bathroom (Online 17 May) Available at www.bits.blogmytimes.com/2013/005/17 at google conference even camera in the bathroom (assessed May 19, 2020)

Bowe F. G., McMahon, B. T., Chang T., & Louvi L. (2005). Work discrimination, deafness and hearing impairment: The National EEOC ADA Research Project. Work 25(1) 19-25

Burns, W., & Faukner, I. L. (2002). Handbook of Industrial noise management. Fairman press, Atlanta Georgia.

Dalton D. S., Cruickshanks, K. J., Klein B. E. K., Klein R, Wiley T. L., & Nondahl D. M. (2003). The Impact of Hearing loss on the quality of life in Older adults. Gerontologist 2003, 5,  661-8.

Deaf Hear (2016). Deafness and hearing loss. https://www.hsc.ic.audiology  

Fada, P. O., & Osisanya, A. (2017). Effects of industrial noise pollution on the auditory performance and health status of industrial workers in Oluyole Industrial Estate, Ibadan, Nigeria. Academic Journal Educational Research 5(6), 92-100

Goines L, & Hagler L. (2007). Noise pollution: A modern plague. Southern medical journal. 100:287-94 IDEA (2004). Child with a disability: Regulations Section 300.8

Kim, H. C., Min, J. Y., Min, K. B., & Park, S. G. (2009). Job strain and the risk for occupational injury in small to medium sized manufacturing enterprises: A prospective study of 1,209 Korean employees. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 52, 322-30.

Kochkin, S. (2010). Marke Trak VIII: The efficacy of hearing aids in achieving compensation equity in the workplace. The Hearing Journal, 63 (10), 19-26. Retrieved from Better Hearing Institute http://www.betterhearing.org/pdfs/M8_hearing_aids_and_employment_2010.pdf

Kochkin, S., & Rogin CM. (2000). Quantifying the obvious: The impact of hearing instruments on quality of life. The Hearing Review. Retrieve: http:// www.betterhearing.org/pdfs/MR40.pdf

Marconi K. (2016). Communication considerations for children with hearing loss. The ASHA leader 2016 https://leader.pubsasha.org  

NIDCD (2004). Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. NIDCD Fact Sheet; NIH https://www.mdcd.nih.gov.2014

Muzet, A. (2007). Environmental Noise, Sleep and Health. Sleep Medicine Reviews. 11: 135 -142

Okuoyibo, J. M. (2006). Introduction to the education and psychology of the hearing impaired child. Being a paper presented at A-3day Capacity Building Wporkshop for Teachers of Children with Special Needs in Enugu State held at Development Education centre on the 31^st October-2^nd November, 2006

Osisanya, A. (1998). The implications of oto-destructive properties of noise in Nigerian society. Nigeria Journal of Speech and Hearing. 1(1) 44 – 47

Osisanya, A., Oyewumi, A., & Sunmonu, M. (2014). Occupational exposure to noise and patterns of hearing threshold among factory workers in Ibadan, Nigeria. Journal of Medical Sciences and Public Health. 2(1), 1-14.

Osisanya A. (2014). Evaluation of auditory performance of aged on speech discrimination skills in South-west Nigeria. Journal of Behavioural Research, 6(1), 38 - 48 

Osisanya A. (2019). Classification of Hearing Status and Hearing Related Stress of Life of Elderly People with Presbycusis in Southwest Nigeria. Nigeria Journal of Social Work Education. 16 (1): 153-166 

Ross, M. (2011).The effects of untreated hearing loss on workplace compensation. The Hearing Loss Magazine, pp. 26-28. May/June 2011

Shukla, K. S. (2003). Monitoring evaluation of the environmental noise pollution. Common Wealth Publishers, New Delhi.

Subroto S. N., & Dihatrak S. V. (2008). Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in India. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 12(2) 53-56 doi:10.4103/0019-5273-43260. pmid 20040978

Szeszenia-Dabrowska, N., & Wilczynska U. (2013). Occupational diseases in Poland: An overview of current trends.  International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health 26(3), 457470. http:/idx.doiorg/10.2478/s13382‑013-0119-x    

Waleed, B. A., Al-kandari, J. M., & Hasan, S. M. (2015). Clasification of hearing loss. Intech Open. https://www.iintechopen.com