Question
I have patients who use noise protection for work, but then spend weekends listening to their iPods, using power tools, jet skis, firearms, etc. without ear protection! How can I get them to understand that certain noises - regardless of their source - may be damaging to their hearing?
Answer
That is an excellent question. Due to the increase in public awareness about non-occupational noise exposure, as audiologists we now have greater opportunities to educate the public at large about noise-induced hearing loss. Many people don't associate recreational noise exposure as harmful - the thinking is that if they're having fun doing something, it can't be harmful. As audiologists, we can explain to our patients how their work and play habits relate;therefore, if you protect your hearing at work, you need to protect your hearing away from work. Relating recreational exposure to occupational exposure can help people understand noise-induced hearing loss.
The broader term sometimes used is sound-induced hearing loss. What I'm listening to on my iPod is not noise, at least not to me, but it can certainly induce hearing loss if it meets the right criteria.
There are many resources available to help with our patient education efforts. NIOSH's noise meter www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise and Better Hearing's sound thermometer www.betterhearing.org/ are two such examples, and both include recreational sources such as power tools and snowmobiles.
This Ask the Expert question was based on information in the recorded course, "Investigating Work-Related Hearing Shifts", www.audiologyonline.com/ceus/recordedcoursedetails.asp?class_id=11343.
Laurie Wells is a board-certified audiologist and Manager of Audiology for Associates in Acoustics, Inc. She received her Master's degree from University of Arizona and her clinical doctorate degree from Pennsylvania College of Optometry, School of Audiology. Laurie is a certified Professional Supervisor of the Audiometric Component of a Hearing Conservation Program. As a consultant to companies nationwide, she provides professional audiology review of hearing conservation programs to ensure effective protection from noise hazards to both employers and employees. This includes audiometric database analysis, assessment of hearing protection devices, and employee/employer education, worker's compensation reviews, and employee noise exposure assessment for both hearing conservation and regulatory compliance. Laurie represents the American Academy of Audiology on the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC), and is an active CAOHC Course Director. She has taught numerous seminars, graduate audiology courses, and made frequent presentations at state and national conferences. Laurie is past-president of the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA), and served on the NHCA board from 1999 - 2006.