Occupation and the risk of hearing impairment – results from the Nord-Trøndelag study on hearing loss

Abstract

Engdahl B, Tambs K. Occupation and the risk of hearing impairment -results from the Nord-Trøndelag study on hearing loss. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2010;36(3):250-257.Objectives We studied the effect of occupation on hearing and if it remained after adjustment for noise exposure, education, income, and other risk factors.Methods Audiometry and a questionnaire concerning exposure was administered to a general adult population sample in Norway (N=49 948). Information on occupation, education, and income was obtained from population census registers.Results Occupation had marked effects on hearing loss. Occupation explained 2-3% of the variance in hearing loss among men ≥45 years in addition to the hearing loss due to age (10-19%). Occupation explained ≤1% of hearing loss among women of all ages and young men. Controlling for self-reported occupational noise exposure reduced the occupational effect by 20-40% in men ≥45 years. Controlling for leisure-time noise, ear infections, and head injuries did not change the effect of occupation, which was slightly reduced after controlling for education and income. The most elevated hearing thresholds in men were observed among: wood workers; miners; linemen and cable jointers; construction carpenters and workers; seamen; and workshop mechanics. ConclusionsThere was a moderate association between occupation and hearing loss. Unbiased estimates of occupational hearing loss may help identify high-risk occupations, for which interventions are needed, and identify individuals with hearing loss.

Self-employment in joinery: An occupational risk facor?

“…olds in woodworkers (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.4-2.3) [11]. The greater prevalence of these hearing losses in craftsmen supports the idea of a misuse of protective equipment under an otherwise equal exposure.…”

“…cause multiple pathologies or symptoms [7,8,10,11]. The dermatologic, ENT, dyspnea, and rheumatologic symptoms were found with a higher prevalence among craftsmen.…”

Childhood socioeconomic status, adult socioeconomic status, and old-age health trajectories

“…In an attempt to explain these divergent trends, research has focused on pathways that account for persistence in and expansion of health inequalities. Some of these include mediators such as stress, social support, and preventive as well as risk behaviors (Engdahl and Tambs 2010;House et al 1990;Marmot and Siegrist 2004;Petrelli et al 2006;Tang, Chen, and Krewski 2003). Some research suggests pathways can operate from early life onward, implicating both childhood and adult SES as determinants of health in old age (Elo and Preston 1997;Galobardes, Lynch, and Davey Smith 2004;Galobardes, Lynch, and Smith 2008;Galobardes, Smith, and Lynch 2006;Hayward and Gorman 2004;Luo and Waite 2005;Preston, Hill, and Drevenstedt 1998;Smith and Hanson Forthcoming).…”

Simplified risk assessment of noise induced hearing loss by means of 2 spreadsheet models

“…Noise induced hearing loss is a difficult diagnosis to make, partly because the expected hearing loss due to noise is usually small as compared to the age-related loss [6,7], and partly because the audiometric notch, which has been used as a diagnostic criterion for the NIHL, also commonly occurs in non noise-exposed ones [8,9]. The national hearing loss criteria used for diagnosis purposes vary from nation to nation, which is regarded as a major problem because it makes it difficult to compare results [10].…”