Teachers face risks to hearing

SEVEN out of 10 female preschool teachers suffer from hearing problems, a study found that linked the profession with a higher risk than others’ exposed to noise.

It is because preschool teachers are regularly exposed to voices and screams often conveying important information and is difficult to avoid, unlike in an industrial environment, as they have to listen to the children.

“Preschool teachers have a much higher risk than those who work in environments with a similar noise rating. The symptoms can be triggered by the boisterous environment and it’s also difficult to use hearing protection,” said Sofie Fredriksson, from Sahlgrenska Academy, at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

“We have an occupational group with higher risk of these symptoms and, if nothing is done about it, it’s really alarming,” Fredriksson explained.

The findings suggested that hearing loss and tinnitus – a sensation of hearing sounds in ears – were the second most common symptoms affecting preschool teachers.

Among the group of 4 718 women who participated in the study, 71% experienced sound-induced auditory fatigue making them unable to listen to the radio and 46% had trouble understanding speech.

Similarly, 39% said they experienced discomfort or physical pain in their ears from everyday sounds that are not necessarily loud at all, at least once a week.

“Hearing protection devices are normally the main intervention if the sound level cannot be reduced in another way and may be necessary if you have a child who subjects your ears to crying for a whole day during preschool,” Fredriksson suggested.

“But the design of the premises and room acoustics also have to be considered. In a large room with solid walls, it becomes noisy no matter how educational and strategic you are in your work,” she added.