Perceived Effects of High Frequency Hearing Loss in a Farming Population

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (02) ◽  
pp. 100-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Stewart ◽  
Jina Scherer ◽  
Mark E. Lehman
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Hearing Handicap ◽  
Perceived Effects

Previous research has suggested that farmers are at increased risk for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) due to excessive amounts of loud noise exposure from farming equipment. This study was conducted to determine the perceived effects of hearing loss in a small farming population. Ninety-three subjects, ranging in age from 18 to 75 years and actively engaged in the farming industry, were asked to complete a case history form regarding noise exposure and demographic information. Hearing sensitivity was assessed by obtaining air conduction thresholds at audiometric test frequencies 500-8000 Hz bilaterally. Subjects completed the Self Assessment of Communication (SAC) hearing handicap scale if any threshold in either ear was poorer than 25 dB HL. Study results revealed that the presence of high-frequency hearing loss and perceived hearing handicap increased with age, with the largest effects seen in those over 50 years of age. The relationship between SAC scores and four hearing handicap formulae utilizing different pure-tone averages was also investigated. The highest correlation coefficients occurred for formulae employing higher frequencies and excluding 500 Hz in the calculation. Implications of this study are that audiologists should be aware of the potential hearing handicap associated with high-frequency hearing loss in the farming population and educational programs concerning the dangers of noise and ways to prevent NIHL should be developed for those in farming occupations.

scholarly journals A risk model and nomogram for high-frequency hearing loss in noise-exposed workers

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruican Sun ◽  
Weiwei Shang ◽  
Yingqiong Cao ◽  
Yajia Lan
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Risk Model ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Exposed Workers

Abstract Background High-frequency hearing loss is a significant occupational health concern in many countries, and early identification can be effective for preventing hearing loss. The study aims to construct and validate a risk model for HFHL, and develop a nomogram for predicting the individual risk in noise-exposed workers. Methods The current research used archival data from the National Key Occupational Diseases Survey-Sichuan conducted in China from 2014 to 2017. A total of 32,121 noise-exposed workers completed the survey, of whom 80% workers (n = 25,732) comprised the training cohort for risk model development and 20% workers (n = 6389) constituted the validation cohort for model validation. The risk model and nomogram were constructed using binary logistic models. The effectiveness and calibration of the model were evaluated with the receiver operating characteristic curve and calibration plots, respectively. Results A total of 10.06% of noise-exposed workers had HFHL. Age (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.083–1.104), male sex (OR = 3.25, 95% CI: 2.85–3.702), noise exposure duration (NED) (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.093–1.201), and a history of working in manufacturing (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.314–1.713), construction (OR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.531–3.421), mining (OR = 2.63, 95% CI: 2.238–3.081), or for a private-owned enterprise (POE) (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.202–1.476) were associated with an increased risk of HFHL (P < 0.05). Conclusions The risk model and nomogram for HFHL can be used in application-oriented research on the prevention and management of HFHL in workplaces with high levels of noise exposure.

scholarly journals Gender-Specific Associations of Speech-Frequency Hearing Loss, High-Frequency Hearing Loss, and Cognitive Impairment Among Older Community Dwellers in China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingru Wang ◽  
Feng Wang ◽  
Peipei Han ◽  
Yuewen Liu ◽  
Weibo Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
World Health ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Community Dwellers

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between speech-frequency hearing loss (SFHL), high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL), and cognitive impairment (CI). Then to determine whether there are any differences in gender among older community dwellers in China. Methods This study involved 1,012 adults aged ≥ 60 years (428 male; average age, 72.61 ± 5.51 years). The participants had their hearing and cognition measured using pure tone audiometry and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), respectively. We used the audiometric definition of hearing loss (HL) adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Speech-frequencies were measured as 0.5 kHz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, and 4 kHz; high-frequencies were measured as 4 kHz and 8 kHz. Pure tone average (PTA) was measured as hearing sensitivity. Results Our studies demonstrated a 37.6% prevalence of HL in males and a 36.0% prevalence of HL in females. Adjusted for confounding variables, the results from a multivariate analysis showed that SFHL was associated with CI in females (OR = 2.400, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.313–4.385) and males (OR = 2.189, 95% Confidence Interval = 0.599–2.944). However, HFHL was associated with CI only in females (OR = 2.943, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.505–5.754). HL was associated with poorer cognitive scores (P < 0.05). “Registration” (P < 0.05) in MMSE was associated with speech- and high-frequency hearing sensitivity. Conclusion The associations between HL and CI varied according to gender in older community-dwellers, suggesting that different mechanisms are involved in the etiology of HL. Moreover, hearing sensitivity was negatively associated with cognition scores; therefore, early screening for HL and CI among older community-dwelling adults is advised.

scholarly journals Sex differences in Speech and High-frequency Hearing Loss Association With Cognitive Impairment Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 716-716
Author(s):  
Wang Jingru ◽  
Yu Ying ◽  
Guo Qi
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
World Health ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Community Dwellers

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between speech-frequency hearing loss (SFHL), high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL), and cognitive impairment (CI). Then to determine whether there are any differences in gender among older community dwellers in China. Methods This study involved 1,012 adults aged ≥60 years (428 male; average age, 72.61±5.51 years). The participants had their hearing and cognition measured using pure tone audiometry and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), respectively. We used the audiometric definition of hearing loss (HL) adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Speech-frequencies were measured as 0.5 kHz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, and 4 kHz; high-frequencies were measured as 4 kHz and 8 kHz. Pure tone average (PTA) was measured as hearing sensitivity. Results Our studies demonstrated a 37.6% prevalence of HL in males and a 36.0% prevalence of HL in females. Adjusted for confounding variables, the results from a multivariate analysis showed that SFHL was associated with CI in females (OR=2.400, 95% Confidence Interval=1.313–4.385) and males (OR=2.189, 95% Confidence Interval=0.599–2.944). However, HFHL was associated with CI only in females (OR=2.943, 95% Confidence Interval=1.505–5.754). HL was associated with poorer cognitive scores (P&lt;0.05). “Registration” (P&lt;0.05) in MMSE was associated with speech and high-frequency hearing sensitivity. Conclusion The associations between HL and CI varied according to gender in older community-dwellers, suggesting that different mechanisms are involved in the etiology of HL. Moreover, hearing sensitivity was negatively associated with cognition scores; therefore, early screening for HL and CI among older community-dwelling adults is advised.

Risk of hearing loss in farmers resulting from work in noise in agriculture

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-40
Author(s):  
Piotr Olszewski ◽  
Magdalena Lachowska
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Occupational Noise ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽  
Occupational Noise Exposure ◽  
Legal Limits ◽  
Harmful Effects

This paper presents risk factors of noise-induced hearing loss and harmful effects of noisy work environment on farmers. Longterm exposure to high-volume sounds leads to degenerative changes of ear structures. The paper presents the consequences of exceeding legal limits on noise exposure in agriculture. The risk of occupational noise exposure and its consequences, such as high frequency hearing loss, is significant in the group of farmers, regardless of whether they work in crop, livestock or mixed production.

scholarly journals Hearing Loss in Agricultural Workers Exposed to Pesticides and Noise

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 707-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nattagorn Choochouy ◽  
Pornpimol Kongtip ◽  
Suttinun Chantanakul ◽  
Noppanun Nankongnab ◽  
Dusit Sujirarat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Frequency Band ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Hearing Threshold ◽  
Agricultural Workers ◽  
Agricultural Machinery ◽  
High Frequency Band ◽  
Full Cohort ◽  
Increased Risk

AbstractAgricultural workers who have concurrent exposure to pesticides and noise are at increased risk of hearing loss. We recruited 163 Thai conventional and 172 organic farmers to answer our questionnaires about personal demographics, agricultural activities, and pesticide and agricultural machinery use. This information was used to calculate the years of conventional (pesticide use) farming and the years of agricultural noise exposure, and to estimate semiquantitative metrics for pesticide exposure (cumulative intensity score-years) and cumulative noise exposure (dB(A)-years) for each conventional farmer. All participants underwent pure tone audiometric testing. The mean hearing threshold in the low-frequency band (0.5–2 kHz) and high-frequency band (3–6 kHz) were used for analysis. Years involved in conventional farming and years using agricultural machinery were associated with an increase in the average hearing threshold for the high-frequency band after controlling for age, ever exposed to industrial noise and cigarette smoking. The highest category of cumulative insecticide exposure (score-years), cumulative organophosphates exposure (score-years) and cumulative noise exposure (dB(A)-years) were also associated with an increased high-frequency band hearing threshold among conventional farmers. Results from the full cohort and the subcohort of conventional farmers support each other and the hypothesis that pesticide and noise have an additive effect on hearing, since no model interactions were significant.

scholarly journals Gender-specific associations of speech-frequency hearing loss, high-frequency hearing loss, and cognitive impairment among older community dwellers in China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingru Wang ◽  
Feng Wang ◽  
Peipei Han ◽  
Yuewen Liu ◽  
Weibo Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
World Health ◽  
Early Screening ◽  
High Frequency Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Community Dwellers

Abstract Background and Aims This study aimed atinvestigating the relationship between speech-frequency hearing loss (SFHL), high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL), and cognitive impairment (CI) and then to determine whether there are any differences in gender among older community dwellers in China. Methods 1012 adults aged ≥ 60 years (428 males; average age, 72.61 ± 5.51 years) and living in Chongming District, Shanghai were enrolled in the study. We used the audiometric definition of hearing loss (HL) adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Speech-frequencies were measured at 0.5 kHz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, and 4 kHz; high-frequencies were measured at 4 kHz and 8 kHz. Pure tone average (PTA) was measured as hearing sensitivity. Cognitive performance was measured using the mini mental state examination (MMSE). Results Our studies demonstrated a 37.6% prevalence of HL in males and a 36.0% prevalence of HL in females. Adjusted for confounding variables, the results from a multivariate analysis showed that SFHL was associated with CI in females (OR = 2.922, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.666–5.124) and males (OR = 2.559, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.252–5.232). However, HFHL was associated with CI only in females (OR = 3.490, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.834–6.643). HL was associated with poorer cognitive scores (P < 0.05). “Registration” (P < 0.05) in MMSE was associated with speech- and high-frequency hearing sensitivity. Conclusions The associations between HL and CI varied according to gender in older community-dwellers, suggesting that different mechanisms are involved in the etiology of HL. Moreover, hearing sensitivity was negatively associated with cognition scores; therefore, early screening for HL and CI among older community-dwelling adults is advised.

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