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. 2017 Jan;59(1):92-113.
doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000920.

Prevalence of Hazardous Occupational Noise Exposure, Hearing Loss, and Hearing Protection Usage Among a Representative Sample of Working Canadians

Katya Feder  1 , David Michaud, James McNamee, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Hugh Davies, Tony Leroux
Affiliations

Prevalence of Hazardous Occupational Noise Exposure, Hearing Loss, and Hearing Protection Usage Among a Representative Sample of Working Canadians

Katya Feder et al. J Occup Environ Med. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hearing loss (HL), self-reported occupational noise exposure, and hearing protection usage among Canadians.

Methods: In-person household interviews were conducted with 3666 participants, aged 16 to 79 years (1811 males) with 94% completing audiometry and distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) evaluations. Occupational noise exposure was defined as hazardous when communicating with coworkers at an arm's length distance required speaking in a raised voice.

Results: An estimated 42% of respondents reported hazardous occupational noise exposure; 10 years or more was associated with HL regardless of age, sex or education. Absent DPOAEs, tinnitus, and the Wilson audiometric notch were significantly more prevalent in hazardous workplace noise-exposed workers than in nonexposed. When mandatory, 80% reported wearing hearing protection.

Conclusions: These findings are consistent with other industrialized countries, underscoring the need for ongoing awareness of noise-induced occupational HL.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Final study sample (unweighted) for audiometry. The final study sample includes 3,431 16- to 79-Year-olds with valid audiometric results in both ears.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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