 |
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
|
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Marjorie M. McCullagh, PhD, RN, Department of Nursing, North Dakota State Unviversity, Box 5055 Sudro 136, Fargo, ND 58105-5055, 701-231-7517, marjorie.mccullagh@ndsu.nodak.edu
An estimated 30 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise, and noise-induced hearing loss is the most common occupational disease (USDHHS, 2000). Healthy People 2010 includes an objective (28.18) aimed at reducing adult hearing loss in the noise-exposed public (USDHHS, 2000). Many workers exposed to hazardous noise benefit from participation in hearing conservation programs, including routine hearing screening. However, workers in certain industries (e.g., agriculture) do not participate in a hearing conservation program and rarely receive this important preventive care. The National Institute for Deafness and Communication Disorders has developed a functional ability questionnaire to assess a person's need for medical examination of their hearing. The use of a self-administered questionnaire may pose a simple, low-cost opportunity to assess the hearing health of workers not included in a hearing conservation program. However, the validity of this questionnaire has not been tested. This poster will describe a study designed to compare the results of audiometric screening and the NIDCD questionnaire in identifying hearing impairment. Data were collected from 103 farmers at a regional farm show. The relationship between questionnaire items and hearing sensitivity is examined. Results will be useful in determining the effectiveness of this self-administered questionnaire in identifying the need for medical evaluation of hearing sensitivity.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Hearing Protection, Agricultural Work Safety
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The study involves examination of a NIDCD functional hearing ability questionnaire
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.