This study aimed to develop and test a hearing loss simulation software to assess the auditory
condition of bus drivers in the Metropolitan Region of Belém. Given the impact of prolonged
exposure to noise experienced by these professionals, the application of these testing software
with simulated noise can present an alternative to evaluate the level of hearing loss in drivers.
Initially, a plan was drawn up to define the software architecture and its interface, using the
Python programming language. Subsequently, auditory perception tests were conducted on
users, and a survey was also conducted on their satisfaction with the test interface. To collect
data, the user, at the time of the test, had to type a sequence of three numbers that they heard
added to a noise similar to that generated by a bus engine, which increased systematically in
each of the 23 rounds of the operation. At the end of the practice, a score obtained by the user
was presented on the screen, which served as data for the elaboration of the statistical survey.
It is worth mentioning that headphones were used in all practices. The results of the research
revealed that, through the application of the tests, the auditory perception capacity among the
members of the control group was greater than the experimental group (bus drivers). This
suggests that prolonged exposure to noise can negatively impact the auditory health of bus
drivers. In summary, the architecture and dynamics of the software were able to simulate a
convincing engine noise condition, giving credit to its effectiveness. In addition, the level of
user satisfaction with the test interface was satisfactory. Considering the test results, it is evident
that the software performed well in simulating an engine noise condition. In summary, the test
results suggest that noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can significantly affect the auditory
health and other aspects of the health of bus drivers, reinforcing the importance of the discussed
topic. In addition, it should be emphasized that the software serves as a supplementary treatment
of the patients' auditory system and not as a way to provide a definitive diagnosis of this health
problem.
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