New trends in the prevention of occupational noise-induced hearing loss

Abstract

Noise exposure during lifespan is one of the main causes of hearing loss. The highest risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is related to exposures in the workplace, and affects about 7% of the population. Occupational NIHL is irreversible, thus its prevention must be considered a priority. Although current hearing conservation programs (HCPs) have proved to be very beneficial, the incidence of occupational NIHL is still high, reaching about 18% of overexposed workers. This paper reviews recent research on the effects of noise on hearing in pursuit of more effective methods for the prevention of occupational NIHL. The paper discusses the translational significance of noise-induced cochlear neuropathy, as recently shown in animals, and the concept of hidden hearing loss in relation to current NIHL damage risk criteria. The anticipated advantages of monitoring the incidents of the temporary threshold shift (TTS) in workers exposed to high levels of noise have been analyzed in regard to the preclinical diagnostics of NIHL, i.e., at the stage when hearing loss is still reversible. The challenges, such as introducing speech-in-noise audiometry and TTS computational predictive models into HCPs, have been discussed. Finally, the paper underscores the need to develop personalized medical guidelines for the prevention of NIHL and to account for several NIHL risk factors other than these included in the ISO 1999:2013 model. Implementing the steps mentioned above would presumably further reduce the incidence of occupational NIHL, as well as associated social costs.

The rate of occupational noise-induced hearing loss among male workers in Israel and implication on hearing surveillance frequency

“…Data on workers’ sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity, rural/urban residential area), occupational variables (industry, years in service hazardous noise-exposure history and duration, noise level of work environment, ototoxic concomitant occupational exposures), information on potential clinical factors known to be correlated with impaired hearing (diabetes, hypertension, smoking status, and medications) (Sliwinska-Kowalska 2020 ) and consecutive hearing monitoring results were obtained from the electronic medical records (EMRs) of the Jerusalem occupational medicine clinic between 2006 and 2017. Information on noise exposure levels of workstations in the plants where participants were employed was obtained from electronic files of the occupational medicine clinic derived from the Ministry of Labor factories' registry.…”

Self-Reported Sensory Impairments in Older Adults and their Association with Self-Rated Health and Mortality Outcomes

“…Hearing impairment (HI) is also associated with unique precursors and outcomes that relate to health and wellbeing. Hearing loss among older people is often the result of a lifetime culmination of environmental interactions and mechanical injury to the inner ear resulting from prolonged exposure to sound (Sliwinska-Kowalska, 2020). Chronic tinnitus, a common age-associated condition characterized by ringing or buzzing in the ear in the absence of acoustic stimuli, is a form of presbycusis often caused by exposure that results in abnormal neural activity along the central auditory pathway (Langguth et al, 2013).…”

Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…As a subtype of NIHL, occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) is a partial or total hearing loss which manifests itself in one or both ears, particularly due to continuous or intermittent noise exposure that often occurs gradually over several years ( 5 – 7 ). Typically, ONIHL is defined by an inner ear injury, is bilateral and symmetrical and affects the perception of upper range of frequencies at 4 kHz before being extended to 3 and 6 kHz.…”