SP01-PS04: Effects of Ultrasonic Use on Hearing Loss in Dental Hygienists

PROBLEM STATEMENT: Dental hygienists are at an increased risk for exposure to hazardous levels of noise at work due to ultrasonic use, however little research has been conducted to determine impacts.

PURPOSE: To determine hearing status of dental hygienists who utilize ultrasonic scalers at work compared to age-matched control participants (non-dental hygienists) who were not exposed to ultrasonic noise.

METHOD: A convenience sample of nineteen dental hygienists (experimental) and nineteen non-dental hygienists (control) were recruited for this study. A matched pairs design was utilized where participants in each group were matched based on age and gender to eliminate confounding variables. The testing procedure consisted of an audiologist performing a series of auditory tests on participants in both groups including otoacoustic emissions test, pure-tone audiometry, and tympanometry.

RESULTS: In the right ear, there were notable differences from 1000 Hz – 10,000 Hz and in the left ear from 6000 Hz – 10,000 Hz, with higher hearing thresholds in the experimental group of dental hygienists. While 56% of the univariate tests conducted on how many days were worked per week showed statistical significance, the regression line slope indicated those that worked more days had better hearing statuses. The variables for years in practice for dental hygienists, how many of those years were worked full-time, and how many years the dental hygienist had used the ultrasonic also had many significant univariate tests for the experimental group only and these variables are more likely to serve as proxies representing true noise exposure. The paired t-test between the groups demonstrated statistically significant differences between the experimental and control group at 9000 Hz in both ears.

CONCLUSION: Though this study does show various qualitative differences in hearing status of the control group (non-dental hygienists) and experimental group (dental hygienists), age was found to be the most critical variable. Further, this data demonstrated differences in hearing status based on various frequencies between dental hygienists and age-matched controls that should be further explored with a larger population.

IRB Approval: Eastern Virginia Medical School reference #20-01-FB-0005

All abstract authors:
Jessica Suedbeck, RDH, BSDH, MS
Jim Blando, PhD
Emily Ludwig, RDH, BSDH, MS
Nathan Michalak, Au.D., CCC-A