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. 2015 Apr;58(4):392-401.
doi: 10.1002/ajim.22429. Epub 2015 Feb 17.

Trends in worker hearing loss by industry sector, 1981-2010

Elizabeth A Masterson  1 , James A Deddens, Christa L Themann, Stephen Bertke, Geoffrey M Calvert
Affiliations

Trends in worker hearing loss by industry sector, 1981-2010

Elizabeth A Masterson et al. Am J Ind Med. 2015 Apr.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence and prevalence of hearing loss for noise-exposed U.S. workers by industry sector and 5-year time period, covering 30 years.

Methods: Audiograms for 1.8 million workers from 1981-2010 were examined. Incidence and prevalence were estimated by industry sector and time period. The adjusted risk of incident hearing loss within each time period and industry sector as compared with a reference time period was also estimated.

Results: The adjusted risk for incident hearing loss decreased over time when all industry sectors were combined. However, the risk remained high for workers in Healthcare and Social Assistance, and the prevalence was consistently high for Mining and Construction workers.

Conclusions: While progress has been made in reducing the risk of incident hearing loss within most industry sectors, additional efforts are needed within Mining, Construction and Healthcare and Social Assistance.

Keywords: hazardous noise; incidence; material hearing impairment; noise-induced hearing loss; occupational hearing loss; prevalence; surveillance; trends.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Prevalence of hearing loss by time period and industry sector, 1981–2010, for 1,816,812 workers.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Incidence of hearing loss by time period and industry sector, 1986–2010, for 560,320 workers.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Risk of incident hearing loss compared to the 1986–1990 time period, by industry sector, for 560,320 workers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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