Noise Induced Hearing Loss in Indian Railway Travelling Ticket Examiners

Abstract

Background: Railway Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) is an employee in Indian railways who examines 'passenger's tickets during the journey in trains. TTEs are more susceptible to noise-induced hearing loss as they work for around 8 hours per day on the train and have continuous exposure to loud noise during their working hours. So, the present study aimed to assess the hearing sensitivity of the Indian Travelling Ticket Examiner.

Materials and Methods: The study included thirteen railway TTEs for hearing assessment. The hearing sensitivity was assessed by obtaining a detailed case history, otoscopic examination, pure tone audiometry and tympanometry.

Results: The mean pure tone average was 22.5 ± 6.03 dBHL and 19.42 ± 7.06 dBHL in the right and left ear, respectively. All the subjects had minimal to mild sensorineural hearing loss in both ears. The degree of hearing loss increased at high frequencies (4 and 8 kHz).

Conclusion: The affected hearing thresholds in TTEs depicts a significant correlation between their service experience and hearing loss. The positive correction between TTEs work experience and hearing loss may lead to a handicapping situation in their professional and personal life. Hence the enrollment of railway TTEs in an appropriate and effective Hearing Conservation Program is a necessity.