If you’ve ever experienced issues with your ears, nose, or throat, you may have sought the help of an ent specialist.
An ent specialist, also known as an otolaryngologist, is a medical professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions related to the ear, nose, and throat.
Hearing problems are a growing concern in workplaces worldwide, and affecting millions of employees.
In this article, we will provide an overview of hearing problems, including their symptoms and effects on workers.
We will also discuss preventive measures and highlight the importance of seeking professional help.
If you are looking for a reliable and efficient provider of occupational health services, at the end of this article, we will introduce you to one of the best: OHPlus.
ENT Overview
An ENT or Otolaryngologist is a medical specialist who deals with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders and conditions related to the ears, nose, throat, and neck.
They are trained to provide medical and surgical care for patients with a range of problems, including hearing loss, sinusitis, tonsillitis, voice disorders, and more.
To become an ENT specialist, one must complete medical school and then undergo at least five years of specialized training in the field.
During this training, they learn to evaluate and treat a wide variety of conditions affecting the head and neck, including infections, injuries, tumors, and congenital anomalies.
ENTs use a variety of diagnostic tools to identify problems, such as endoscopes, CT scans, and MRI scans.
They may also perform procedures such as ear tube placement, tonsillectomies, and sinus surgeries.
Patients of all ages can benefit from seeing an ENT specialist.
Children with recurrent ear infections, adults with hearing loss, and anyone experiencing chronic sinusitis or throat pain can find relief through proper diagnosis and treatment.
In addition to medical expertise, ENTs often have a strong background in communication sciences, allowing them to diagnose and treat voice and swallowing disorders.
They may also work closely with audiologists and speech therapists to provide comprehensive care for patients with hearing and speech difficulties.
Overall, ENT specialists play a vital role in diagnosing and treating disorders of the ear, nose, and throat, helping patients to manage their symptoms and improve their overall health.
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Symptoms and Effects of Hearing Problem in Workplace
Noise-induced hearing loss is characterized by early symptoms such as ringing in the ear, reduced hearing in one or both ears, and ear pain.
If left untreated, it may lead to complications that can affect daily life.
These complications include communication difficulties, difficulty in understanding conversations and speaking in a loud voice.
You may also find yourself asking for repetition of conversations, and trouble listening to the radio or television at normal volume.
Sufferers may also experience emotional disturbance such as irritability, tiredness, and feeling isolated, as well as dizziness and loss of balance.
It’s important to seek treatment if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms.
Preventive Measures for Hearing Problems
Noise-induced hearing loss is a permanent hearing damage that is difficult to solve.
The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has enforced policies to ensure a healthy work environment for both employees and employers.
It is the responsibility of both parties to ensure that a safe and healthy work environment is implemented.
To prevent hearing loss, several measures can be taken, such as:
- Application of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Earplugs, earmuffs, or both, should be used while working.
- Engineering controls on machinery or workplace: Sound-absorbent materials or dividers can be installed between workers and machines.
- Distribution of working hours or shift system: Employers should take into account factors such as time and exposure levels of their employees to reduce exposure to excessive noise.
- Periodic hearing tests: Monitoring through annual hearing tests is necessary. Before commencing work, hearing screening tests are also needed for initial monitoring and future reference in case of employee claims.
If any signs of hearing problems are detected, employees should seek expert advice from an Occupational Health Doctor (OHD) to undergo a medical examination.
If abnormal hearing problems are confirmed, the selected employee will then refer to an Audiologist or an ENT specialist to obtain further investigation.
The employer should be informed, and further action should be taken, such as claiming compensation, changing work shifts, or implementing engineering controls.
However, if the hearing problem is permanent and cannot be treated, employees are advised to use hearing aids.
Different types of hearing aids are available to help people hear better.
Workers with hearing problems can still work under certain conditions, such as no exposure to excessive noise, no disruption of work, and informing the employer of the hearing problem.
Remember, prevention is better than cure.
Protect Your Employees’ Hearing Health by with OHPlus.
Prevention is better than cure.
Thus, employers have to take a proactive approach to protect employees from existing and/or developing hearing problems in the workplace.
These are options that you could take:
- Regular check-ups in accordance with OSHA 2022 regulation.
- Noise surveillance for workers exposed to noisy working environments.
- Mental health support to reduce and minimise psychosocial hazard.
Don’t let the hearing health of your employees to chance.
OHPlus is here to help you ensure their hearing is protected and well-managed.
Our comprehensive hearing health management platform empowers you to monitor and manage your hearing health right from your smartphone.
With OHPlus, you can schedule hearing tests, track your results, and receive personalized recommendations for improving your hearing health.
Most importantly, OHPlus offers the best quality occupational services which includes:
Audiometric Screening
We conduct air conduction hearing tests for employees working in noisy environments that exceed the Noise Exposure Limit (NEL).
Audiometric Diagnostic
Our bone conduction hearing tests confirm the type of hearing loss, whether it’s sensorineural, mixed, or conductive..
OHD Examination
We provide medical examinations for employees who have abnormal audiometric screening results, such as hearing loss, permanent standard threshold shift, and hearing impairment.
ENT/Audiologist Services
This service is done through referral by the OHD post Medical Examination which is to further investigate, treat or rule out other causes for hearing loss.
OH Consultation
OH Consultation will manage employee occupational health requirement performance faster, accurately and in regulatory compliance.
Partner with OHPlus today to ensure your employees’ hearing health is taken care of, no matter where they are.