Hearing loss as a predictor for hearing protection attenuation among miners

2021 ◽  
pp. oemed-2020-106838
Author(s):  
Elon D Ullman ◽  
Lauren M Smith ◽  
Marjorie C McCullagh ◽  
Richard L Neitzel
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Hearing Threshold ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Hearing Protection ◽  
Mining Sites ◽  
Speech In Noise ◽  
Midwestern Usa ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Fit Testing

ObjectiveThis study investigated risk factors for poor earplug fit, with a focus on the association between hearing loss and personal attenuation ratings (PARs).MethodsEarplug fit was assessed by obtaining PARs using a real ear at attenuation threshold (REAT) system. Hearing loss was assessed using the unoccluded hearing thresholds measured during the REAT testing and the results of a speech-in-noise test. Potential predictors of PARs were modelled using both simple and multiple linear regression. Hearing loss was the primary predictor of interest.ResultsData were collected from 200 workers at ten above-ground mining sites in the Midwestern USA. Workers reported wearing their hearing protection on average 73.9% of the time in a high noise environment (mean 8-hour time-weighted average noise exposure 85.5 dBA, range 65–103 dBA). One-quarter (26.7%) of workers were found to have a hearing loss (hearing threshold ≥25 dB across 1–4 kHz), and 42% reported symptoms of tinnitus. Workers with a hearing loss had a significantly lower PAR than those without a hearing loss (β=−5.1, SE=1.7).ConclusionsThe results of the adjusted regression models suggest that workers with hearing loss achieved significantly lower PARs than those without hearing loss. This association between hearing loss and hearing protection devices (HPD) fit brings into focus the potential benefit of fit checks to be included in hearing conservation programmes. Workers found to have hearing loss should be prioritised for fit testing, as their hearing impairment may be associated with poor HPD fit.

Hearing threshold shifts among military pilots of the Israeli Air Force

2017 ◽  
Vol 164 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liyona Kampel-Furman ◽  
Z Joachims ◽  
H Bar-Cohen ◽  
A Grossman ◽  
Y Frenkel-Nir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Mean Shift ◽  
Hearing Threshold ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Potential Risk Factors

BackgroundMilitary aviators are potentially at risk for developing noise-induced hearing loss. Whether ambient aircraft noise exposure causes hearing deficit beyond the changes attributed to natural ageing is debated. The aim of this research was to assess changes in hearing thresholds of Israeli Air Force (IAF) pilots over 20 years of military service and identify potential risk factors for hearing loss.MethodsA retrospective cohort analysis was conducted of pure-tone air conduction audiograms of pilots, from their recruitment at 18 years of age until the last documented medical check-up. Mean hearing thresholds were analysed in relation to age, total flight hours and aircraft platform. Comparisons were made to the hearing thresholds of air traffic controllers (ATCs) who were not exposed to the noise generated by aircraft while on duty.ResultsOne hundred and sixty-three pilots were included, with flying platforms ranging from fighter jets (n=54), combat helicopters (n=27), transport helicopters (n=52) and transport aircraft (n=30). These were compared with the results from 17 ATCs. A marked notch in the frequency range of 4–6 kHz was demonstrated in the mean audiograms of all platforms pilots, progressing with ageing. Hearing threshold shifts in relation to measurements at recruitment were first noted at the age of 30 years, particularly at 4 kHz (mean shift of 2.97 dB, p=0.001). There was no statistical association between flying variables and hearing thresholds adjusted for age by logistic regression analysis.ConclusionsThe audiometric profile of IAF pilots has a pattern compatible with noise exposure, as reflected by characteristic noise notch. However, no flight variable was associated with deterioration of hearing thresholds, and no significant difference from non-flying controls (ATCs) was seen.

Hearing Protection Devices Use and Its Relationship with Hearing Loss among Steel Industry Workers of Samut Prakan Province, Thailand

2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-358
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Steel Industry ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Threshold Level ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Hearing Protection ◽  
Exposure Level ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Protection Devices

Objective: To investigate hearing protection devices (HPDs) use and its relationship with hearing loss among steel industry workers in Thailand. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study included 93 eligible participants who are working in the designated high-noise-level zones, which is 85 or more A-weighted decibels [dB(A)] for eight hours time-weighted average, of the two factories. Self-report forms were used to obtain HPDs use by industry workers and noise exposure level was measured with Spark® (Model 706) noise dosimeter. Audiometric screening for hearing loss was performed at a regional hospital by the qualified technician. The hearing loss in each ear was defined if the average threshold level was found to have exceeded 25 dB(A) at high frequencies of 4 and 6 kHz. Results: The findings showed that 45.2% of workers used earplug, 16.1% used earmuff, and 38.7% used both, and most workers (55.8%) wear HDPs regularly, for six of seven days per week. Fifty seven percent of workers wear HDPs for more than 60% time of an 8-hour work shift. Most workers (75.2%) have hearing loss. Conclusion: The authors’ result revealed that almost half of workers used hearing protection devices and most workers use HPDs during the 8-hour work time. Abnormal hearing ability were found among workers. The education program such as the hazards of noise on potential auditory loss, a noise education training program and full use of HPDs are encouraged to prevent effect of noise on workers. Keywords: Hearing protection devices, Noise induced hearing loss, Steel industry

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 Audiological analysis in military police officers with exposure to occupational noise in motorized patrol activity

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-45
Author(s):  
K.C.S. De Lima ◽  
L.B. Da Silva ◽  
V.S.B. Gonçalves ◽  
E.L. De Souza ◽  
J.G.B. Fernandes
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Service Time ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Hearing Threshold ◽  
Occupational Noise ◽  
Military Police ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Personal Dosimeter ◽  
Selection Of

The aim of this article is to present the results of audiological findings from a selection of military police officers with exposure to occupational noise, in the motorized patrol activity, in João Pessoa city. The data collected from the motorcycle police sample were compared with the ISO 1999: 2013 Standard. The research was performed in 46 police officers, whose mean age was 32.7 years old and a mean service time of 10.5 years. For the subjects’ selection and inclusion in the study, interviews were conducted, in addition to questionnaires, ontological examination, audiometric tests and the respective noise level measurements performed by a personal dosimeter, according to ISO 9612:2009 Standard recommendations. Findings from questionnaires showed that 51% of the police officers reported to have some type of hearing complaints; through audiometric tests, 36.1% of the cases suggested hearing loss. The most significant hearing threshold change occur in the range from 3000Hz and 4000Hz. Hearing thresholds shifts suggest the occurrence of some Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) level in motorcycle police officers who are over 30 years and 10 years of service. Besides, compared with the data from ISO 1999:2013 standard, there is a decrease in the auditory level of these professionals after three years on service, and a noise exposure of Lex, 8h = 96.9 dB(A).

scholarly journals Comprehensive Audiometric Analysis of Hearing Impairment and Tinnitus After Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy in Survivors of Adult-Onset Cancer

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (23) ◽  
pp. 2712-2720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert D. Frisina ◽  
Heather E. Wheeler ◽  
Sophie D. Fossa ◽  
Sarah L. Kerns ◽  
Chunkit Fung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Middle Ear ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Hearing Threshold ◽  
Adult Onset ◽  
Hearing Status ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Loss Severity

Purpose Cisplatin is widely used but highly ototoxic. Effects of cumulative cisplatin dose on hearing loss have not been comprehensively evaluated in survivors of adult-onset cancer. Patients and Methods Comprehensive audiological measures were conducted on 488 North American male germ cell tumor (GCT) survivors in relation to cumulative cisplatin dose, including audiograms (0.25 to 12 kHz), tests of middle ear function, and tinnitus. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association criteria defined hearing loss severity. The geometric mean of hearing thresholds (0.25 to 12 kHz) summarized overall hearing status consistent with audiometric guidelines. Patients were sorted into quartiles of hearing thresholds of age- and sex-matched controls. Results Increasing cumulative cisplatin dose (median, 400 mg/m2; range, 200 to 800 mg/m2) was significantly related to hearing loss at 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 kHz (P trends, .021 to < .001): every 100 mg/m2 increase resulted in a 3.2-dB impairment in age-adjusted overall hearing threshold (4 to 12 kHz; P < .001). Cumulative cisplatin doses > 300 mg/m2 were associated with greater American Speech-Language-Hearing Association–defined hearing loss severity (odds ratio, 1.59; P = .0066) and worse normative-matched quartiles (odds ratio, 1.33; P = .093) compared with smaller doses. Almost one in five (18%) patients had severe to profound hearing loss. Tinnitus (40% patients) was significantly correlated with reduced hearing at each frequency (P < .001). Noise-induced damage (10% patients) was unaffected by cisplatin dose (P = .59). Hypertension was significantly related (P = .0066) to overall hearing threshold (4 to 12 kHz) in age- and cisplatin dose–adjusted analyses. Middle ear deficits occurred in 22.3% of patients but, as expected, were not related to cytotoxic drug dosage. Conclusion Follow-up of adult-onset cancer survivors given cisplatin should include routine inquiry for hearing status and tinnitus, referral to audiologists as clinically indicated, and hypertension control. Patients should be urged to avoid noise exposure, ototoxic drugs, and other factors that further damage hearing.

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.

Noise Exposure and Hearing Disorders

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Byrne ◽  
Thais C. Morata
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Hearing Protection ◽  
Noise Induced Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Disorders ◽  
Industrial Noise ◽  
Significant Impairment ◽  
Protection Devices ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Occupational Hearing Loss

Exposure to industrial noise and the resulting effect of occupational hearing loss is a common problem in nearly all industries. This chapter describes industrial noise exposure, its assessment, and hearing disorders that result from overexposure to noise. Beginning with the properties of sound, noise-induced hearing loss and other effects of noise exposure are discussed. The impact of hearing disorders and the influence of other factors on hearing loss are described. Typically, noise-induced hearing loss develops slowly, and usually goes unnoticed until a significant impairment has occurred. Fortunately, occupational hearing loss is nearly always preventable. Therefore, this chapter gives particular attention to recommendations for measures to prevent occupational hearing loss such as engineering noise controls and hearing protection devices.

scholarly journals Monitoring of the auditory pathway maturation after early intervention during the first year of life in infants with sensorineural hearing loss

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Matin ◽  
S. Haumann ◽  
W. Roßberg ◽  
D. Mitovska ◽  
T. Lenarz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Early Intervention ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Threshold ◽  
Auditory Pathway ◽  
Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽  
First Year ◽  
Early Therapy ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
First Year Of Life

Abstract Purpose The objective of this study was to investigate the auditory pathway maturation monitored by auditory brainstem responses (ABR) in infants with hearing loss during the first year of life. ABR were used to estimate hearing thresholds and the effect of early intervention strategies using hearing aids (HA). Methods Click-evoked ABRs were measured in 102 infants aged from 0 to 12 months to determine their individual auditory threshold. Early therapy intervention was recommended before 12 months of age and analyzed. To evaluate the effect of hearing amplification on auditory maturation, different subgroups of infants with moderate hearing loss were analyzed and the auditory pathway maturation was determined based on IPL I–V shortening. Results Overall, 110 ears (54.0% of 204 ears) with mild to profound HL showed threshold changes of 10 dB up to 60 dB in the follow-up ABR testing. HA were prescribed at the age of 3.8 ± 3.9 months. Cochlear implantation (CI) was performed in cases of repeated profound HL at the age of 9.9 months ± 4.5 months. A significant shortening of IPL I–V in all subgroups of infants (with and without risk factors) who received HA was shown and assumed auditory pathway maturation. Conclusion An early intervention using optimally fitted HA influenced auditory pathway maturation and may lead to improvements of hearing thresholds during the first year of life in infants. This study underscores the importance of not only providing HAs to infants, but also controlling for hearing threshold changes ensuring that HAs provide the optimal level of intervention or CI is indicated.

scholarly journals Partial Hearing Restoration after ERBB2 Induction in Deafened Adult Mice

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingyuan Zhang ◽  
Daxiang Na ◽  
Miriam Dilts ◽  
Kenneth S. Henry ◽  
Patricia M. White
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Supporting Cell ◽  
Supporting Cells ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Brainstem Response ◽  
Noise Damage ◽  
Cochlear Supporting Cells

AbstractNoise induced hearing loss (NIHL) affects over ten million adults in the United States, and there is no biological treatment to restore endogenous function after damage. We hypothesized that activation of signaling from ERBB2 receptors in cochlear supporting cells could mitigate NIHL damage. We used the Tet-On genetic expression system to drive a constitutively active variant of ERBB2 (CA-ERBB2) in cochlear supporting cells three days after permanent noise damage in young adult mice. Hearing thresholds were assessed with auditory brainstem response tests prior to noise damage, and hearing recovery was assessed over a three month period. We evaluated supporting cell proliferation, inner and outer hair cell (IHC and OHC) survival, synaptic preservation, and IHC cytoskeletal alterations with histological techniques. Mice harboring CA-ERBB2 capability had similar hearing thresholds to control littermates prior to and immediately after noise exposure, and incurred similar levels of permanent hearing loss. Two and three months after noise exposure, CA-ERBB2+ mice demonstrated a partial but significant reversal of NIHL threshold shifts at the lowest frequency tested, out of five frequencies (n=19 total mice, p=0.0015, ANOVA). We also observed improved IHC and OHC survival (n=7 total cochleae, p=5 × 10−5, Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test). There was no evidence for sustained supporting cell proliferation. Some mortality was associated with doxycycline and furosemide treatments to induce the Tet-ON system. These data suggest that ERBB2 signaling in supporting cells promotes HC repair and some functional recovery. Funded by NIH R01 DC014261, and grants from the Schmitt Foundation and UR Ventures.

scholarly journals Distorted tonotopy severely degrades neural representations of natural speech in noise following acoustic trauma

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satyabrata Parida ◽  
Michael G. Heinz
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Frequency Tuning ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Temporal Coding ◽  
Natural Speech ◽  
Auditory Nerve Fiber ◽  
Temporal Precision ◽  
Speech In Noise ◽  
Neurophysiological Studies

SUMMARYListeners with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) struggle to understand speech, especially in noise, despite audibility compensation. These real-world suprathreshold deficits are hypothesized to arise from degraded frequency tuning and reduced temporal-coding precision; however, peripheral neurophysiological studies testing these hypotheses have been largely limited to in-quiet artificial vowels. Here, we measured single auditory-nerve-fiber responses to a natural speech sentence in noise from anesthetized chinchillas with normal hearing (NH) or noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Our results demonstrate that temporal precision was not degraded, and broader tuning was not the major factor affecting peripheral coding of natural speech in noise. Rather, the loss of cochlear tonotopy, a hallmark of normal hearing, had the most significant effects (both on vowels and consonants). Because distorted tonotopy varies in degree across etiologies (e.g., noise exposure, age), these results have important implications for understanding and treating individual differences in speech perception for people suffering from SNHL.

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