Hubungan Kebisingan dengan Tinnitus pada Pekerja Bengkel Las di Jalan Setiabudi Kota Medan

Abstract

Background: Tinnitus, the perception of sound without an external sound source, is a common complaint among welders. Persistent sounds in the ears can result from disruptions in the function of the body's organs and damage to the cochlea due to high noise intensity, ototoxic drugs, or infections. Damage typically initiates from the outer hair cells before involving the inner hair cells. Objective: This study aims to analyze the relationship between noise intensity and tinnitus complaints among welders in the vicinity of Setiabudi Street, Medan City. Method: This research is an observational analytical study with a cross-sectional approach. The respondents consist of 26 workers from 7 welding workshops around Setiabudi Street, Medan, selected proportionally using random sampling. Results: Analysis using the Lambda test indicates a significant relationship between tinnitus complaints and workers' age (p=0.0001). However, there is no significant association between tinnitus complaints and gender. Analysis of job characteristics reveals a significant connection between tinnitus complaints, length of employment (p=0.01), duration of exposure (p=0.0001), and hearing function decline (p=0.0001). The analysis of noise intensity with tinnitus complaints shows a significant relationship (p=0.019). Conclusion: Based on these findings, a significant relationship exists between noise intensity, age, length of employment, duration of exposure, and hearing function decline with tinnitus complaints among welders in the vicinity of Setiabudi Street, Medan. These findings serve as a foundation for developing preventive strategies and health interventions in workplaces involving high noise levels.