Sanitas Revista Arbitrada de Ciencias de la Salud · Oct 2026
Occupational noise and hearing loss among logistics personnel of a military transport wing
By Muñoz-Núñez BM, Cano JRM, Flores-Pilco DA
OBJECTIVE: To describe noise levels and the frequency of hearing loss among personnel of the logistics group of Transport Wing No. 11 in Latacunga, Ecuador, and their relationship with length of service. METHODS: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study of 212 workers, with sound level measurements by area and source and a review of audiograms from occupational medical records. RESULTS: 95.3 % were men, with a mean age of 33.3 years. Maintenance tools generated between 75.1 and 130.2 dB and the testing area between 86.6 and 90.8 dB. Hearing loss was present in the right ear in 29.2 % and in the left ear in 34.0 %. In the left ear, the frequency increased from 15.0 % among those with nine years of service or less to 55.4 % among those with 18 years or more, with a significant trend. CONCLUSIONS: Hearing loss is frequent and requires a hearing conservation program.