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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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Open Access 01-11-2019 | Tinnitus | Original Article

Working in preschool increases the risk of hearing-related symptoms: a cohort study among Swedish women

Authors: Sofie Fredriksson, Jeong-Lim Kim, Kjell Torén, Lennart Magnusson, Kim Kähäri, Mia Söderberg, Kerstin Persson Waye

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 8/2019

Abstract

Purpose

To assess whether working in preschools increases the risk of hearing-related symptoms and whether age, occupational noise, and stressful working conditions affect the risk.

Methods

Questionnaire data on hearing-related symptoms were analysed in women aged 24–65 (4718 preschool teachers, and 4122 randomly selected general population controls). Prevalence and risk ratio (RR) of self-reported hearing loss, tinnitus, difficulty perceiving speech, hyperacusis and sound-induced auditory fatigue were assessed by comparing the cohorts in relation to age and self-reported occupational noise and stressful working conditions (effort–reward imbalance and emotional demands). RR was calculated using log-binomial regression models adjusted for age, education, income, smoking, hearing protection, and leisure noise. Incidence rates and incidence rate ratios (IRR) were calculated for retrospectively reported onset of all symptoms except sound-induced auditory fatigue.

Results

Compared to the controls, preschool teachers had overall more than twofold RR of sound-induced auditory fatigue (RR 2.4, 95% confidence interval 2.2–2.5) and hyperacusis (RR 2.3, 2.1–2.5) and almost twofold for difficulty perceiving speech (RR 1.9, 1.7–2.0). Preschool teachers had a threefold IRR of hyperacusis (IRR 3.1, 2.8–3.4) and twofold for difficulty perceiving speech (IRR 2.4, 2.2–2.6). Significantly although slightly less increased RR and IRR were observed for hearing loss and tinnitus. RR and IRR were generally still increased for preschool teachers when stratified by age and occupational exposure to noise and stress.

Conclusions

This large cohort study showed that working as preschool teacher increases the risk of self-reported hearing-related symptoms, indicating a need of preventative measures.

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Title: Working in preschool increases the risk of hearing-related symptoms: a cohort study among Swedish women
Authors: Sofie Fredriksson
Jeong-Lim Kim
Kjell Torén
Lennart Magnusson
Kim Kähäri
Mia Söderberg
Kerstin Persson Waye
Publication date: 01-11-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Tinnitus
Fatigue
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 8/2019
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-019-01453-0

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Working in preschool increases the risk of hearing-related symptoms: a cohort study among Swedish women

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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