Terzioğlu B., Türkoğlu B., Demir Ö. F., Yumuşakhuylu A. C., Güler Ayyıldız B.
ARHIV ZA HIGIJENU RADA I TOKSIKOLOGIJU, vol.77, no.3, pp.220-227, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
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Publication Type:
Article / Article
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Volume:
77
Issue:
3
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Publication Date:
2026
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Doi Number:
10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4131
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Journal Name:
ARHIV ZA HIGIJENU RADA I TOKSIKOLOGIJU
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Journal Indexes:
SportDiscus, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), East & Central Europe Database (ProQuest), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), BIOSIS, EMBASE, Greenfile, MEDLINE, Directory of Open Access Journals
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Page Numbers:
pp.220-227
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Kütahya Health Sciences University Affiliated:
Yes
Abstract
Abstract
This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the effects of occupational noise exposure on objective auditory function and self-reported hearing difficulties in young adult dental professionals. It included 56 young adults (aged 18–40), divided into the noise-exposed (n=31) and unexposed control group (n=25). Auditory assessments consisted of pure-tone audiometry (250–8000 Hz), word recognition in clinical speech-in-noise (SIN) test at 0 dB and −5 dB signal-to-noise ratios, and the self-reported Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ). No significant differences were observed between the exposed and control groups in pure-tone thresholds or SIN performance, but the exposed group reported significantly poorer hearing abilities on the SSQ Speech (7.53, 8.30; p=0.043) and SSQ Qualities (8.30, 8.91; p=0.014) subscales. These findings suggest that standard clinical assessments may overlook early functional deficits associated with occupational noise and that self-reported hearing difficulties may complement conventional audiometric assessment before measurable threshold shifts occur.