Hearing Loss Data Discussion
Please read a NIOSH study “Trends in worker hearing loss by industry sector, 1981-2010”, published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine (https://www.ncbi.
Using your own words and critical thinking skills, discuss
- (15 points) Why the prevalence and incidence of hearing loss for all industries combined did not change much during 1981-2010 (about 1-2%), but the adjusted risk decreased significantly (46%)?
- (15 points) Why the prevalence for hearing loss among workers in Healthcare and Social Assistance were increasing, and what factors may have contributed to?
Answer preview
- Reasons for the lack of change in prevalence of OHL and the slight decrease in adjusted risk
According to the study, the prevalence did not change since, while many efforts had been undertaken to reduce the risk of hearing the loss in many sectors. There remain so many sectors such as the mining, construction industries that continue to expose millions of workers to hazards (Masterson, Deddens, Themann, Bertke, & Calvert, 2015). The fact that there was no much change in the prevalence is explained by the fact that so many workers continue to be exposed to harmful noise at their workplaces. Put differently, and little has been achieved in making the industries safe from hazardous…
(400 words)