Noise exposure and hearing conservation practices in an industry with high incidence of workers' compensation claims for hearing loss

2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 309-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Daniell ◽  
Susan S. Swan ◽  
Mary M. McDaniel ◽  
John G. Stebbins ◽  
Noah S. Seixas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Workers Compensation ◽  
Conservation Practices ◽  
Hearing Conservation ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Compensation Claims

Noise Exposure Levels for Student Musicians

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 160-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa L Miller ◽  
Michael Stewart ◽  
Mark Lehman
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
University Student ◽  
Conservation Practices ◽  
Sporting Events ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Hearing Conservation ◽  
Weighted Averages ◽  
Exposure Levels ◽  
Loud Music

Twenty-seven student musicians were surveyed regarding musical practice and playing habits, knowledge of hearing conservation practices, use of hearing protective devices (HPD), and the occurrence of tinnitus after exposure to loud music. In addition, noise exposure levels during practice and sporting events (football and basketball games) at which they played were monitored with a dosimeter simultaneously set to measure noise levels using the OSHA (1983) and NIOSH (1998) measurement criteria. Forty-eight percent of the subjects reported practicing or playing their instrument <10 hours a week. Most musicians (74%) reported having been taught about the effects of noise on hearing and health; however, less than a third used ear protection while playing their instruments, and those who did used it inconsistently. Sixty-three percent of subjects reported experiencing tinnitus after exposure to loud music. Finally, 8-hour time-weighted averages (TWA) and daily noise doses were significantly higher using the NIOSH measurement criteria than the OSHA measurement criteria. Both measurement criteria yielded values that exceeded a 100% daily noise dose for all subjects. Overall, these results indicate that university student directors and musicians appear to be at high risk for permanent noise-induced hearing loss secondary to excessive exposure to loud music. These results support the need for on-going hearing conservation programs to educate student musicians and student directors about the dangers of excessive exposure to loud music.

Vocal Performance Teachers and Hearing Loss

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-24
Author(s):  
Vance Gunnell ◽  
Jeff Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Otoacoustic Emissions ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Vocal Performance ◽  
Occupational Noise ◽  
Hearing Conservation ◽  
Occupational Noise Exposure ◽  
Distortion Product ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Performance Teachers

Hearing thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emissions were measured for teachers of vocal performance who were gathered for a national conference. Results showed mean audiometric thresholds to be consistent with noise induced hearing loss, more than what would be expected with normal aging. Years of instruction and age were considered as factors in the hearing loss observed. It was concluded that hearing conservation should be initiated with this group to help raise awareness and protect them from hearing loss due to occupational noise exposure.

Field Monitoring of Otoacoustic Emissions During Noise Exposure: Pilot Study in Controlled Environment

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (3S) ◽  
pp. 352-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Nadon ◽  
Annelies Bockstael ◽  
Dick Botteldooren ◽  
Jérémie Voix
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Otoacoustic Emissions ◽  
Ambient Noise ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
Noise Induced Hearing Loss ◽  
Conservation Programs ◽  
Hearing Conservation ◽  
Hearing Status

Purpose In spite of all the efforts to implement workplace hearing conservation programs, noise-induced hearing loss remains the leading cause of disability for North American workers. Nonetheless, an individual's susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss can be estimated by monitoring changes in hearing status in relation to the level of ambient noise exposure. The purpose of this study was to validate an approach that could improve workplace hearing conservation practices. The approach was developed using a portable and robust system designed for noisy environments and consisted of taking continuous measurements with high temporal resolution of the health status of the inner ear using otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). Method A pilot study was conducted in a laboratory, exposing human subjects to industrial noise recordings at realistic levels. In parallel, OAEs were measured periodically using the designed OAE system as well as with a commercially available OAE system, used as a reference. Results Variations in OAE levels were analyzed and discussed along with the limitations of the reference and designed systems. Conclusions This study demonstrates that the monitoring of an individual's OAEs could be useful in monitoring temporary changes in hearing status induced by exposure to ambient noise and could be considered as a new tool for effective hearing conservation programs in the workplace.

Perceptions, Beliefs, and Attitudes Toward Various Hearing Conservation Approaches Reported by Indiana College Agriculture Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 109-122
Author(s):  
Sylvanna L. Bielko ◽  
Khalid M. Khan ◽  
M. Margaret Weigel
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Hearing Protection ◽  
List Type ◽  
Multiple Features ◽  
Hearing Conservation ◽  
Agriculture Students ◽  
Computer Based Training ◽  
Classroom Presentation

HighlightsNoise-measuring applications (apps) and in-person classroom presentation were identified as the most preferred approaches by the college agriculture students.Multiple features of noise apps and in-person intervention were identified as beneficial.A subset of participants reported that a combination of approaches could influence hearing protection use.Abstract. Noise-induced hearing loss is a major public health challenge for agricultural communities. However, there is limited hearing conservation research addressing the issue, especially for youth and young adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions and practices of Indiana undergraduate students who lived or worked on a farm. The students were asked to rank the most common and current hearing conservation educational approaches, including in-person classroom presentation, mailers, and technology-based approaches, i.e., computer-based training, interactive websites, static websites, and smartphone noise-measuring applications (apps). A total of 91 undergraduate students enrolled in agriculture classes at four Indiana higher educational institutions participated in the study. They completed a sociodemographic and farm activity survey, followed by a 30-minute in-person presentation on hearing health conservation. After the presentation, each participant completed a questionnaire that included items about their perceptions of the feasibility, sustainability, rankings, and preferences of the various educational approaches discussed in the presentation. Participants ranked the noise-measuring app and in-person classroom presentation as their most preferred educational approaches for hearing conservation (39% and 28%, respectively). They identified multiple features of these two intervention approaches as beneficial. Sixty-four percent of participants indicated that a combination of approaches could influence hearing protection use and should include in-person classroom presentation and one of the technology-based approaches (noise-measuring apps, 37.3%). These findings are expected to assist health interventionists and program designers in developing future hearing protection education programs for farm youth, who may otherwise lack access to resources for preventing premature hearing loss due to loud noise exposure. Keywords: Agricultural workers, Hearing conservation, Hearing protection, Undergraduate college students, Youth education.

scholarly journals Relationship Between Subjective Reports of Temporary Threshold Shift and the Prevalence of Hearing Problems in Military Personnel

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 233121651987260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas S. Brungart ◽  
Mary E. Barrett ◽  
Jaclyn Schurman ◽  
Benjamin Sheffield ◽  
Leilani Ramos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Subjective Measures ◽  
Hearing Conservation ◽  
Speech In Noise ◽  
Time Weighted Average ◽  
Subjective Reports ◽  
Hearing System ◽  
Relevant Outcome

Traditional hearing conservation programs are based on the premise that noise dose, as measured by the time-weighted average noise level, is the primary risk factor associated with occupational hearing loss and that permanent threshold shifts are the most relevant outcome measures for determining when a noise-related hearing loss has occurred. However, recent studies in animal models have suggested that significant neurological damage to the hearing system can occur from noise exposures even when they are not severe enough to result in permanent threshold shifts. This has led to a number of studies attempting to relate subjective measures of noise exposure to subjective measures of hearing difficulty and suprathreshold measures of hearing performance (e.g., speech-in-noise tests). In this study, 3,330 U.S. service members volunteered to complete a survey on noise exposure, subjective hearing complaints, and tinnitus in conjunction with their annual hearing tests. Two questions were also included about the frequency and duration of temporary hearing losses that may have been experienced by the service member. The results show that subjective reports of temporary threshold shifts were substantially more predictive of tinnitus and other hearing complaints than more traditional questions based on the frequency of noise exposure.

scholarly journals Leisure Noise Exposure and Associated Health-Risk Behavior in Adolescents: An Explanatory Study among Two Different Educational Programs in Flanders

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8033
Author(s):  
Sofie Degeest ◽  
Hannah Keppler ◽  
Bart Vinck
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Educational Programs ◽  
Attitudes And Beliefs ◽  
Conservation Programs ◽  
Hearing Conservation ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Risk Taking Behavior

Adolescents frequently engage in noisy leisure activities which can result in hearing-related problems. However, the effect of leisure noise exposure is liable to an individual’s risk-taking behavior. Identifying leisure noise activities and relevant factors related to risk-taking behavior in adolescents, are important to optimize hearing conservation programs targeting youngsters. The purpose of the study was to explore the presence of hearing-related symptoms, as well as noise exposure during various activities, and the use of hearing protector devices (HPDs) in adolescents in two educational programs in Flanders. In addition, their attitudes and beliefs towards noise, hearing loss, and HPDs were investigated. The final sample consisted of 247 adolescents. The most important hearing-related symptoms after noise exposure were tinnitus and noise sensitivity. With regard to leisure noise exposure, listening to PMPs was most frequently reported. The use of HPDs during most noisy activities was limited, in accordance with the presence of hearing-related symptoms, considering noise as unproblematic, and having worse scores on subscales of the beliefs about hearing protection and hearing loss scale. In the future, hearing conservation programs should target adolescents specifically for a more health-orientated behavior towards noise exposure, hearing loss, and HPDs.

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