RESULTS
One hundred subjects included in the study were all male public transport drivers, driving in Lahore city. Their age range was 33 years to 55 years with mean age of 41.35 years. All of the drivers are driving at least from last 8-10 years (51%). 14% were driving from last 10-15 years, 21% driving from last 15-20 years, and 14% were driving from more than 20 years at the time of interview. Most of the subjects drive
for 10-12 hour daily (42%). 35% drive for 6-8 hours a day, 17% for 8-10 hours a day, and only 6% drive for more than 12 hours per day. About 72% are concerned regarding maintenance of their vehicle and they carry out routine check up of their vehicles monthly. Remaining 28% carry out maintenance of their vehicles irregularly. 62% of the subjects work for 7 days a week and 38% work for 6 days a week. 84% are aware of the ill effects of excessive noise but only 4% use any type of protective devices in the presence of noise. According to criteria of WHO mentioned (Table-I); 25% of the subjects had Grade 0 (hearing loss of 25 dB) hearing impairment, or they had normal hearing levels. 65% had Grade 1 hearing impairment or slight hearing
impairment (hearing loss of 26 – 40 dB). And10% of the drivers had Grade 2 or moderate hearing impairment (hearing loss of 41 – 60 dB).
CONCLUSIONS
Public transport drivers are exposed to excess
noise on roads in Lahore city. About 75% of
them are suffering from NIHL and 10% have
disabling hearing impairment.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are thankful to Dr. Shahid
Farooq (Institute of Public Health, Lahore) for
arranging drivers for study, and for helping
compile the results