Services on Demand
Journal
Article
Indicators
Cited by SciELO
Access statistics
Related links
Cited by Google
Similars in SciELO
Similars in Google
Share
Revista de Salud Pública
Print version ISSN 0124-0064
Abstract
QUIROZ-ARCENTALES, Leonardo et al. The auditory and neuropsychological effects of school children's exposure to environmental noise in a locality in Bogotá, 2010. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2013, vol.15, n.1, pp.116-128. ISSN 0124-0064.
Objective Evaluating the effect of environmental noise on the auditory health of a group of students from a locality in Bogotá, their educational development and leisure activities and the appearance of neuropsychological symptoms. Methods This was an observational cross-sectional prevalence study in a sample of 581, 10-17 year-old children and adolescents in two district educational institutions, defined as higher (>65 dB) and lower exposure (<65 dB) according to an environmental noise map of the locality, such ranking being subsequently verified. A survey was made regarding their health-related background, perception of being exposed to noise and auditory health-related habits; a liminal tone audiometry of the airway was taken using the criteria recommended in the Infrastructure Technical Advisory Group'snoise-induced hearing loss (ITAG-NIHL) guidelines. Results The more exposed school exceeded the regulations concerning comfortable environmental noise levels (7/8 measurements). Both institutions' levels exceeded WHO recommendations (15/16 measurements); 14.8 % of students had some degree of hearing loss. No significant differences were identified regarding exposure; however, higher thresholds were found in the more exposed group when comparing mean hearing threshold. Students attending morning sessions had a greater prevalence of hearing loss and neuropsychological symptoms and neuro-otological symptoms and difficulty in sleeping was reported amongst the more exposed students. Conclusion A difference was found between students' hearing thresholds, depending on their exposure, suggesting an association with the levels of noise to which they are exposed.
Keywords : Hearing loss; educational achievement; noise; school-aged population.