Question
I review a large number of audiograms from industry. It seems there are a disproportional number of middle aged women with progressing mild-to-moderate, bilateral, flat sensorineural hearing loss. The configuration is not common to noise. Any ideas as to etiology?
Answer
With the information provided, it's nearly impossible to make a call on etiology. Are these women in the same plant, with exposure to things other than noise that could pose a risk to hearing like ototoxic chemicals (a search of the NIOSH website shows about 20 hits for "ototoxic")? Is age correction applied to the audiograms, or is it possible you are seeing the effects of presbycusis? The age correction factors in the US occupational hearing conservation regulation permit "corrections" of greater than 10 dB at test frequencies from 1000 hz to 6000 hz for a 50-year-old woman. Are there other cultural or societal factors that could be contributing to the hearing loss you see? There are many variables and contributors to hearing loss - more information is needed to even get started in the right direction.
Lee D. Hager works with Sonomax, a leading provider of new technology in hearing loss prevention. He has been active in the field since 1986, with extensive professional association, presentation, and publication experience. Email him atlhager@sonomax.com
Lee D. Hager
Hearing Loss Prevention Consultant for Sonomax Hearing Healthcare, Inc.
Lee brings nearly 20 years of experience to his position as Hearing Loss Prevention Consultant for Sonomax Hearing Healthcare, Inc. Sonomax is a leading provider of new technology in hearing protection devices. Previously, his tenure with James, Anderson & Associates, Inc. provided him the opportunity to consult with Fortune 5 companies regarding the quality and integrity of their hearing conservation programs, including noise exposure monitoring and hearing test data management. He has served as President of the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA);chair of the Noise Committee of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA);as NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Noise Team member;and with ANSI Working Group S12/WG11 on hearing protector evaluation and labeling issues. He has presented at major conferences on noise and hearing topics, having received the AIHA Noise Committee Outstanding Lecture Award in 2003. He publishes regularly in occupational health and safety publications, and he cares about your ears. I am employed by Sonomax Hearing Healthcare, Inc., a hearing protection manufacturer. While Sonomax technology may be part of an overall best practices hearing loss prevention program, the company and technology will not be discussed in this presentation
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