Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To determine the level of aircraft noise exposure and how it relates to hearing loss, and to investigate the association between noise exposure and anxiety and depression in subjects residing adjacent to a military airbase.
METHODS
The study was conducted upon 898 inhabitants between the ages of 30-79, living near the military airbase in Jeonra-do. The subjects were divided into three noise-exposure groups: high-exposure, low-exposure, and a control group. The cut-values were 80 and 60 on the Weighted Equivalent Continuous Perceived Noise Level scale. A self-administered questionnaire including the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were completed. Pure tone audiometry tests were performed.
RESULTS
Hearing loss prevalence was defined by a >40 dB loss in bilateral ears or in one ear; the difference of <15 dB compared to the better side was 30.8%. The mean BAI/BDI score was 18.9+/-14.3/18.7+/-11.6, the number of abnormal subjects with BAIs > or =22 was 317 (35.3%), with BDIs > or =21 was 347 (38.6%). The pure tone average, BAI, and BDI scores were higher in the noise-exposure groups compared to the control. The BAI/BDI abnormal subjects showed a higher hearing threshold shift level compared to the normal scored subjects. The odd ratios for anxiety was significantly high in both noise exposure groups and the hearing loss, for depression was significantly high in high-exposure group and hearing loss.
CONCLUSIONS
Anxiety and depression were higher when exposure to high-level noise and further complicated by hearing loss. Further investigation is needed to determine the cause-effect relationship.

• Keywords: Aircraft;Noise;Hearing loss;Anxiety;Depression