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W Sułkowski

Publications and source records attributed to W Sułkowski.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

[Electrophysiologic studies of hearing: current methods in clinical and occupational audiology. I. Brain stem evoked response audiometry (ABR)].

Electrophysiological methods of auditory assessment called evoked responses are an exciting new development with broad implications in the fields of otology, audiology and neurology. At the present time they are the best objective non-invasive audiometric tests (versus subjective psychoacoustic examinations) for predicting hearing thresholds in infants and uncooperative patients. Basic concepts of electric response audiometry, most important auditory evoked potentials, their probable sites of generation and classification according to latency i.e. elapsed time between stimulus and response are reviewed. Instrumentation, procedure and technical considerations in recording the brain-stem evoked response audiometry (ABR), the most popular recent method for evoked potentials testing are described. Special attention is focused on measurement, identification and interpretation of brainstem responses and their major clinical uses, namely threshold testing of infants, young children and malingerers, diagnosis of acoustic tumors and neurological evaluation of brainstem lesions. Finally, the first own experience with a new employed in our laboratory the evoked potentials system Amplaid MK 10 for clinical testing of auditory pathways are presented and illustrated by some examples of application of brainstem audiometry in diagnosis of occupational noise-induced hearing loss.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Dosimetric evaluation of noise and results of the audiometric examination of a selected group of workers in the refinery-petrochemical industry].

Sonometric and dosimetric measurements of noise at a dozen workplaces of three divisions in a refinery-petrochemical plant have been made. The equivalent level allowable with a view to hearing protection was found to be exceeded by 1-3 dBA at some workplaces. The tonal audiometric test was used to determine threshold levels for 250-8000 Hz frequencies in 122 workers. The present acoustic conditions at the test workplaces do not pose a risk of a significant hearing loss. Only a slight high-frequency hearing loss which might result from noise exposure was diagnosed. Not a single case of occupational hearing impairment conformable with the mandatory diagnostic and certificatory rules was reported.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Epidemiology of occupational cancer of the upper respiratory tract in Poland 1971-1985].

Incidence of the occupational cancer of the upper respiratory tract has been assessed on the basis of analysis of the data from central register of the occupational disease recognized by the state sanitary-epidemiological service. 99 cases versus 374 all registered occupational cancers of different target organs were found, entirely in men of the mean age 53.6 +/- 6.8 years, and of mean exposure duration 21.3 +/- 8.3 years. The greatest number of cases concerned the workers employed in engineering (23.2%) metallurgical (18.2%) and chemical (14.1%) industry in age groups 50-59 years (55.5%) and duration 16-20 years and above (75.6%). Among carcinogens identified in the work environment, tars, soots and oils with content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (46.5%), chromium compounds (24.3%), "other" chemicals like ferric oxide, dichlorobenzidine, N-Phenyl-2-naphthylamine (9.1%), and asbestos (9.1%) have predominated in proportions given in brackets. In the major part of cases analysed in the study, the larynx was affected (86.9%), and only individual cancers were localized within oral cavity (7.1%), pharynx (4.0%), nose and nasal sinuses (2.0%). Finally, some general difficulties with identification of human environmental carcinogens, and with explaining possible associations between specific cancer sites and industrial chemicals action have been discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[A permanent noise-induced shift in the auditory threshold in textile industry workers].

Hearing thresholds have been measured in 236 cotton weaving mill workers (124 women: average age 42.5 +/- 11.2 years, average length of employment 19.5 +/- 10.6 years and 112 men: average age 41.2 +/- 10.3 years, average length of employment 19.0 +/- 11.1 years) exposed to continuous broadband noise of the constant level of approx. 100 dB-A. 90% of subjects exhibited the permanent threshold shift characterized by a great individual variability and maximum loss at the 4 kHz frequency. Those lesions were getting enhanced with increasing length of exposure and were more serious in elder age groups. No significant differences between the hearing loss intensity in men and women were found. The development of the hearing loss is characterized by its rapid increase within 3, 4 and 6 kHz during the initial 8 years of exposure, stabilization between years 9-12 and slow moderate increase within the further 13-31 years of exposure. Those conclusions should be implemented into practice through an increase in the frequency of preventive audiometric tests in the initial period of work in exposure which has such a great impact on the development of the hearing impairment.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Reduction of health risk factors in workers exposed to carbon disulfide].

The results of all the efforts made so far towards the reduction of CS2 concentrations at the workplaces of viscose rayon industry indicate that achievement of safe standards is little probable in the nearest future. Likewise, the preventive activities aimed at the reduction of the daily working time from 8 to 6 hours and referring workers to work with no exposure for several months are hardly effective. Basing on the results of clinical and epidemiological studies of the CS2 exposed population and relevant control groups the authors indicate their own solutions of decreasing the health risk. Pursuant to this suggestion the total time of work in exposure should not exceed 15 years and would be interrupted by so called periods of "health regeneration", consisting in the transfer to the production with no CS2 exposure for one year. This rotational system would apply to all those employed for over five years under CS2 concentrations exceeding the hygienic standards.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1984

[Permanent shift of auditory thresholds caused by continuous and impulse noise: comparative studies].

The studies included two groups of workers, only men, of maximally similar structure of age and length of employment but different exposure conditions. 112 cotton weavers worked under continuous noise and 64 forgers under impulse noise. Noise measurements demonstrated that in both groups the equivalent levels were almost identical (101.8 dB-A in the weaving room and 100.4 dB-A at the forge). The permanent hearing threshold shift in both types of exposure was found to exhibit similar time course, developing within 10-15 years of exposure, then stabilizing, and reaching the asymptote within about 20 years. Despite the same dose of acoustic energy, the hearing impairment induced by impulse noise was greater and is characterized by the maximum loss at 6 kHz frequency, as opposed to the notch at 4 kHz typical of continuous noise.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Measurement of the temporary auditory threshold shift (TTS) for evaluation of the degree of noise hazard].

Long-term investigations of noise in coal mines enhanced the need to take measurements at work stations posing high risk of methane explosion. To facilitate evaluation of noise hazard at the workplace in coal mines, attempts have been made to apply TTS measurements. Measurements of TTS taken within 3 to 5 minutes after cessation of noise exposure in industrial conditions made it possible to evaluate equivalent sound level.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Perforation of the nasal septum of occupational origin].

Perforations of nasal septum as typical effects of exposure to certain hazards are a particular health problem among the diseases of upper respiratory tract mucous membranes (entry 10 on the list of occupational diseases). To obtain more data on etiopathogenetic factors and correlations between the clinical picture and exposure duration, the documentation of the patients in whom perforation was diagnosed during 1972-1979 was analysed epidemiologically. The examinations covered 185 workers of various industrial branches-salina, chemical plants, leather plants, tanneries, electroplating plants-who developed nasal septum perforation due to local effects of working environment irritants. In the test group the nasal septum was defected mostly in those exposed to chromium compounds (46.5%) and in salina workers (44.3%). In the remaining 9.2% of subjects the septum perforation resulted from exposure to arsenic, nickel, silicone compounds, cadmium, fluorine, soda and ammonia. The clinical course of the disease was presented as classified by industrial branch, occupational exposure, age and length of employment. In addition, procedures of diagnostics, certification and prevention were considered.

Abscess↗
PubMed1982

[Hearing disorders in industrial workers: clinical analysis of the cases observed in the audiological laboratory of the Lódź Institute of Occupational Medicine during the years 1976-1980].

The documentation of 697 cases with suspected, as suggested by regional health service units, occupational aetiology, was analysed. Within consultation those cases underwent complex audiological evaluation at the Laboratory of Audiology, using following examinations: pure tone threshold and suprathreshold audiometry, malingering tests, speech audiometry and electronystagmographic tests. The findings revealed that only 30% of subjects confirmed noise-induced hearing loss. 65.2% of those subjects exhibited cochlear localization, whereas in the remaining 34.8% the results of audiological tests showed retrocochlear impairment. The calculated mean hearing losses were characterized by symmetrical changes both in the right and left ear, as well as by directly proportional dependence on subjects' duration and exposure and age, men having more advanced hearing loss than women, despite identical mean parameters of age and exposure of both sexes. In 70% cases hearing losses were not regarded as occupational diseases, which resulted from: functional disturbances found in form of aggravation and simulation (15.3%), the presence of hearing loss lesser than the one specified by the certification rule (15.1%), post--inflammatory and adhesional changes in the middle ear (12.3%) and lack of significant exposure to noise (8.3%). It has been settled that the major causes of the diagnostic errors that we had detected were: deficient audiometric apparatus, erroneous technics of hearing measurements (among others--without masking), lack of the determination of hearing thresholds for bone conduction, drawing conclusions from single examinations, giving up simulating tests, improper evaluation of the data on occupational exposure. The considerations summing up the results of analysis include an optimum methodology of audiological studies, required standard conditions of audiometry and principles of differential diagnostics as indispensable elements of proper certification procedures in setting up the hearing impairments etiology in industrial workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[Intermittent reaction in the electronystagmographic pendular test in chronic carbon disulfide poisoning].

101 past workers of artificial fibres plant (average age 50.5 years +/- 6.1, average length of employment 21.8 years +/- 6.0, disabled due to recognized chronic carbon disulphide poisoning of various clinical forms, have been examined. Apart from routine ENG examination (recording at rest and after kinetic, caloric and optokinetic stimulation), the pendular swivel chair test has been carried out. Tönnies electronystagmograph coupled with electronically controlled swivel chair D-420 has been used, programmed for pendular motion with angular acceleration values 1 degree/sek2. Analysis of electronystagmographic records after pendular stimulation has revealed the characteristic intermittent nystagmus reaction in 50.5% of subjects. Occurrence of such nystagmus pattern increased with patients age and CS2 exposure duration, amounting in particular clinical forms of poisoning to the following: 91% in encephalopolyneuropathy, 70% in encephalopathy and 35% in polyneuropathy. The authors regard the electronystagmographic evaluation of vestibular system done with the pendular swivel chair as significant aid in diagnosing toxic labyrinthopathies due to CS2 poisonings. On the other hand, intermittent nystagmus reaction may be indicative of the central nature of the lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[Current and retrospective problems of treatment of occupational hearing loss of the cochlear type].

The prevalence of occupational hearing impairment constantly increases, thus there are more and more people who become deaf and disabled from carrying on their jobs and normal social contacts. The technical efforts aimed at limiting exposure to noise, as well as medical prophylactic activities are not efficient enough. Therefore the authors analyse the possibilities of occupational hearing impairment treatment. Pharmacologic preparations likely to affect the temporary and permanent threshold shift, are considered. Within operative treatment, microsurgical technique of implanting microelectrodes to the cochlea is presented, basing on the authors' experiments with 4 patients op]erated and rehabilitated with this method.

Cochlea↗
PubMed1980

[Acoustic nerve adaptation in chronic acoustic trauma].

The adaptation phenomenon of the the cochlear nerve in the highest frequency region was studied by means of electrocochleography in the group of 32 persons exposed to prolonged noise and with noise-induced, mild hearing loss (in the 4--6 kHz region) and in 19 persons under the same conditions of noise-exposure but, without any evidence of the hearing loss. The same investigations were performed in the group of 27 normal-hearing persons and non-exposed to noise. In the whole group of persons exposed to prolonged noise, disregarding their hearing condition the amplitude-decrease of the action potential of the cochlear nerve due to the adaptation procedure, was twofold in comparison to the non-exposed persons. The latency of this potential was longer in the whole group of exposed to noise persons than in the intact persons. It was presumed that this type of auditory nerve adaptation results infinitial, ultrastructural noise-damage within the basal turn of the cochlea. Basing on the obtained results it was postulated that the adaptation phenomenon in the highest-frequency region can serve as an indicator of early noise-induced malfunction of the cochlea which probably precedes the highest-frequency threshold elevation in conventional audiometry.

Adaptation, Physiological↗