PURPOSE: To establish the audiometric profile of workers exposed to noise above the action level (85 dB) in Maracanaú's Industrial District, Ceará (Brazil). METHODS: A descriptive study of prevalence was carried out through the evaluation of audiometric data gathered from the files of the researched companies between April and October of 2006. There were 5372 workers evaluated, from the 47 (52,80%) companies that authorized the study. The studied variables were: age range, total period of exposition to noise, auditory acuity status, type of hearing loss, hearing loss laterality and audiometric configuration suggestive of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in workers, economic activity trade and size of the company. RESULTS: It was observed that 19% of the studied population presented alterations, with predominance of sensory neural hearing loss (SNHL) in 90.67% of the cases. In 12.71% of the population suggestive signs of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) were observed, and in 71.77% of the population with SNHL there were signs of NIHL. Regarding laterality of the hearing loss, 39.09% was unilateral, from which 24.03% was on the left ear. CONCLUSION: Although the results do not represent the total prevalence of hearing loss in the District, they point out to the necessity not only to perform occupational audiometry, but also to longitudinally monitor the hearing of these workers as part of a hearing conservation program.
Hearing loss; Audiometry; Occupational health; Occupational noise; Prevalence
