At the National Hearing Conservation Association conference,
experts raised awareness about new findings related to hearing loss and hearing
protection.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School revealed data
suggesting that neural damage can continue for months after exposure to noise
has ended, resulting in worsening tinnitus and difficulty interpreting speech.
While concerns about hearing protection often relate to
occupations in which workers are surrounded by loud machinery and equipment,
new studies are identifying other work environments that may pose hearing
hazards:
- A University of Queensland study revealed hearing loss among workers who were exposed to ototoxic chemicals such as toluene, a solvent found in paints, glues, varnishes and other common products. Frequent exposure to such chemicals resulted in poorer performance in detecting sounds and in temporal resolution. Researchers suggest that these workers should be included in hearing conservation programs and educated on adverse effects of solvents on the auditory system. A researcher from West Virginia University also proposed a battery of audiologic tests to help diagnose solvent-induced hearing loss.
- A University of Sydney study found that musicians were occupationally and recreationally exposed to hazardous noise. Recommendations for musicians that can help protect their hearing include practicing in acoustically appropriate environments, spacing practice sessions farther apart and using hearing protection such as musician’s ear plugs, which are designed to attenuate sound more naturally than traditional ear plugs.
Find more information about work-related hearing loss here.