Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Ακοολογία–ΝευροωτολογίαLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Lasithiotakis Dimitrios
Supervisors info:
Αθανάσιος Μπίμπας, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπων
Κωνσταντίνος Παστιάδης, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Μουσικών Σπουδών, ΑΠΘ
Δημήτριος Κικίδης, Επιμελητής Β΄, Α΄ Πανεπιστημιακή ΩΡΛ Κλινική, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Απώλεια ακοής, εμβοές και υπερακουσία σε επαγγελματίες διερμηνείς - Τονική ακοομετρία και Ωτοακουστικές Εκπομπές
Translated title:
Hearing loss, tinnitus and hyperacusis in professional interpreters - Pure Tone Audiometry and Otoacoustic Εmissions
Summary:
Introduction
Simultaneous interpretation specialists are skilled professionals who work under highly de-manding conditions. The suitability of the audio equipment and the quality of the audio signal are considered very important parameters of their work. During the COVID pandemic, in the context of social distancing, an increased use of remote simultaneous interpretation (RSI) was observed. The equipment was in many instances no longer of the same quality standards, and the audio signal was more processed and compressed. There were reports of various com-plaints among the simultaneous interpretation specialists (SIS) that included hearing loss, tin-nitus and noise intolerance to everyday sounds following exposure to RSI.
Methods
In our study, which is a cross-sectional study, we attempted to assess the hearing status of 22 individuals that work as simultaneous interpretation specialists. In addition to medical history taking and clinical examination, we performed audiological evaluation of the participants us-ing pure tone audiometry and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs).
Results
By defining hearing loss as a pure tone threshold of >25 dB HL at any of the examined frequencies(250Ηz-8000Hz) we found that in our sample, hearing loss was observed in 40,9% of the participants. In our sample, an elevated percentage of high frequency hearing loss was observed in the 50-60 and 60-70 age groups. The presence of tinnitus was noted in 27.3% of our sample, while hyperacusis was reported by 40.9% of the participants. In our sample, we did not find statistical correlation between the presence of hearing loss, hyperacusis or tinnitus and the level of exposure to RSI. The recorded levels of the DPOAEs were present but abnormal at high frequencies.
Discussion
The occurrence of tinnitus, hyperacusis and hearing loss in our sample is increased compared to the general population, according to the literature. This observation is of particular interest and could spark further research of the potential mechanisms and conditions that may be responsible. Taking into account the statistical limitations of our study, it cannot be established if the use of RSI does indeed play a role in these findings or if they are possibly a result of the usual SIS work conditions.
Conclusion
Despite the interesting findings, the small sample size and the limitations of the cross-sectional study underline the need of further research to enrich the limited literature concern-ing this specialized group of professionals.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Interpreters, Hearing, Audiogram, Tinnitus, Hyperacusis
