Hearing aids in noisy workplaces : a good or bad solution?

Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2008

Subjective disturbances, due to hearing loss, are auditory disability and handicap which can be evaluated with a questionnaire. The present study refers to a population of industrial workers affected by noise-induced hearing loss. Aim of the study is to identify the minimal level of hearing loss over which the patient felt changes in his quality of life, and the average auditory threshold at which the patient considered the application of a hearing aid useful or necessary. The sample comprised 180 males with noise-induced hearing loss. Each subject received a questionnaire designed for this study. Data show a correlation between disability, handicap and the degree of noise-induced hearing loss. The most relevant problems in noise-induced hearing loss are correlated with disability rather than handicap. 35 dB can be considered as the level above which these devices can be suggested to patients. Hearing aids can become a therapeutic instrument even in the presence of a low degree of h...

International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology, 2015

Introduction Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a serious problem for workers and therefore for businesses. The hearing conservation program (HCP) is a set of coordinated measures to prevent the development or evolution of occupational hearing loss, which involves a continuous and dynamic process of implementation of hearing conservation routines through anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and subsequent control of the occurrence of existing environmental risks or of those that may exist in the workplace and lead to workers' hearing damage. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the HCP in preventing further hearing loss in workers with audiograms suggestive of NIHL. The audiometric tests and medical records of 28 furniture company workers exposed to noise were reviewed and monitored for 2 years. Methods This retrospective, cross-sectional study examined five audiometric tests in the medical records (on admission and every semester) of 28 worke...

Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2010

Objectives-Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is prevalent, yet evidence on the effectiveness of preventive interventions is lacking. The effectiveness of a new technology allowing workers to monitor daily at-ear noise exposure was analysed. Methods-Workers in the hearing conservation program of an aluminium smelter were recruited because of accelerated rates of hearing loss. The intervention consisted of daily monitoring of atear noise exposure and regular feedback on exposures from supervisors. The annual rate of change in high frequency hearing average at 2, 3 and 4 KHz before intervention (2000-2004) and 4 years after intervention (2006-2009) was determined. Annual rates of loss were compared between 78 intervention subjects and 234 controls in other company smelters matched for age, gender and high frequency hearing threshold level in 2005. Results-Individuals monitoring daily noise exposure experienced on average no further worsening of high frequency hearing (average rate of hearing change at 2, 3 and 4 KHz=-0.5 dB/ year). Matched controls also showed decelerating hearing loss, the difference in rates between the two groups being significant (p<0.0001). Analysis of a subset of intervention subjects matched to controls for initial rate of hearing loss showed a similar trend but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.06). Conclusion-Monitoring daily occupational noise exposure inside hearing protection with ongoing administrative feedback apparently reduces the risk of occupational NIHL in industrial workers. Longer follow-up of these workers will help determine the significance of the intervention effect. Intervention studies for the prevention of NIHL need to include appropriate control groups. BACKGROUND Noise is one of the most prevalent occupational hazards, and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most common occupational diseases. 1 Despite widespread implementation of hearing conservation programs in workplaces over recent decades, NIHL

The aim of this study was to determine the cause and effect relationship of noise and hearing status users of hearing aids. It was assumed that increased continously and intensity of noise in urban areas has resulted in postponement of the assessment of hearing impairment in relation to age. Also, it was assumed that the inferior status hearing aid users of hearing aids in the city, compared to the auditory user status hearing aids from the suburbs. The sample (N = 60) consisted of the hearing impaired, which is assigned to a hearing aid. The sample was selected randomly and divided into two sub-samples, 30 patients from the city and 30 patients from the suburbs. The survey was administered questionnaire intensity noise levels and users of hearing aids. The processing of the collected data was used descriptive analysis, and testing the difference T-test and Mann Whitney U test, with the selected level of statistical significance 0.05. The results showed a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of users of hearing aids urban and suburban areas, in relation to the age of the respondents. The population of urban settlements are likely accustomed to communicate on a higher level of intensity socio-voice communication, and thus later in life notice hearing loss and later appears at diagnosis. Results hearing loss and hearing loss percentage by Fowler-Sabine-in, in clinical terms, they showed slight differences, with somewhat unfavorable hearing status urban, suburban relative to the population. Not confirmed the statistical significance of these differences, which are only partially can be argued that increasing the intensity of noise in urban areas has resulted in inferior status hearing aid users of hearing aids in this, in relation to the hearing aid user status from the suburbs. ABSTRACT 1 Correspodence to:

Noise & Health, 2011

Level-dependent hearing protection devices (HPDs) provide protection from intense sound, while offering amplification for speech and other signals in lower levels of noise. These HPDs have been developed in response to the communication and operational needs of noise-exposed persons in industry and the military. This study was conducted to examine industrial workers' perceptions of the performance of two level-dependent HPDs (one with integrated radio communication capability and one without it) and their customary passive HPDs. This research took place at a plastic film manufacturing plant in Rhode Island, USA, following a mixed-measures design. Fifteen maintenance technicians at the plant evaluated the two level-dependent HPDs, plus their customary passive HPDs, in three separate trial periods. Data were collected via a questionnaire designed for this purpose. Mixed-model analyses of variance were performed on all dependent measures. Linear and quadratic effect sizes were assessed with eta. Results revealed that the two level-dependent HPDs offered better perceived communication and situational awareness than the workers' customary passive HPDs. However, the level-dependent HPDs were rated lower than the passive HPDs in terms of usability and comfort. To increase workers' acceptance of level-dependent HPDs, usability issues must be addressed by the HPD manufacturers.

2008

Summary Subjective disturbances, due to hearing loss, are auditory disability and handicap which can be evaluated with a questionnaire. The present study refers to a population of industrial workers affected by noise-induced hearing loss. aim of the study is to identify the minimal level of hearing loss over which the patient felt changes in his quality of life, and the average auditory threshold at which the patient considered the application of a hearing aid useful or necessary. The sample comprised 180 males with noise-induced hearing loss. Each subject received a questionnaire designed for this study. Data show a correlation between disability, handicap and the degree of noise-induced hearing loss. The most relevant problems in noise-induced hearing loss are correlated with disability rather than handicap. 35 dB can be considered as the level above which these devices can be sug gested to patients. Hearing aids can become a therapeutic instrument even in the presence of a low de...

The use of technology in industries is ever increasing. With the introduction of this technology come new safety and human performance concerns. Hearing loss caused by industrial noise has been recognized for many years, and protection of employee hearing has been made mandatory by governmental agencies. This paper presents an investigation of occupational noise exposure and Personal hearing protective devices (PHPD) in selected industries in the south-eastern Iran. A questionnaire has been used to collect data for workers with high noise exposure and Personal hearing protective devices (PHPD). The subjects were 354 industrial workers expose to noise pressure levels greater than the action level defined in Iranian legislation (85dB (A) 8h/d. The results of this study indicated that only younger workers with minor professional experience and with high educational background are used PHPD to protect and preserve their hearing. The finding of this study shows that approximately 75% of the workers with age 18-36 reported the use of personal protective Devices at all the time, and 73% of workers with age more than 46 years old reported that they had never used them PHPD, even though it was mandatory in their workplaces. Statistical data show that, the percentage of male workers (82) with age more than 37 years old having headaches at workplace are higher than female (3.4) with the same age groups. A noise training and education program must be developed for industrial employees in order to protect them from hazardous noise pollution. Employers must play an important role in promoting the regular use of Personal hearing protective devices. Noise level in work areas must be considered in the early design of Hearing Conservation Program.

Journal of Sound and Vibration, 1997

Towards the goal of protecting workers from damage due to noise exposure, a vast store of knowledge has been generated about its nature, etiology and time course. There still exists, however, a strong need to reclarify the locations, nature and magnitude of the problem of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Based on the rate of positive results in a hearing screening test in the workplace, this paper presents an attempt to estimate the total number of workers with more than 40 dB hearing loss at 4 kHz caused by occupational noise exposure. The estimated values in major industry groups were as follows: about 780 000 in manufacturing; 410 000 in construction; 360 000 in agriculture; forestry and fishing; and around 2 million in total. Although it is rather difficult to estimate the number of workers exposed to noise above 85 dB(A), it may be reasonable to believe that at least several million workers exposed to noise should be covered by the 1992 guidelines for the prevention of noise hazards.

American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2005

Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 2002

Objectives: Although hearing protectors must be used as a temporary solution, their choice should take into account several aspects, such as ergonomic features, associated with this device. The present study aims to analyse the relationship between the acoustical attenuation efficiency and other aspects related to the comfort afforded by hearing protectors and, consequently, their acceptability when used in industrial noisy environments.