Hearing Loss Data Discussion

Instructions: (( see the attachment ))

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.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4557728/pdf/nihms718189.pdf).

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?

201901291947213_masterson_1981_2010_hearing_loss_trend_pmid_25690583

Solution Preview

According to the risk assessment report workers who are exposed to the everyday occupational noise that ranges the levels of about 90dBA, would eventually suffer from the material hearing impairment immediately after a whole forty-year working lifetime. But again the report indicate that the prevalence, as well as the incidence of the hearing loss for all of the combined industries, did not show a significant change, but also the adjusted risks were minimized significantly during 1981-2010 due to the reduction in the occupational exposures (Elizabeth, James, Christa, et al., 2015).

(341 words)