This document discusses noise-induced hearing loss and prevention methods. It notes that hearing healthcare professionals often overlook prevention. Two questions are presented to help patients appreciate their hearing senses: favorite color and favorite sound. Regulations from OSHA on hearing protection in noisy workplaces are covered. Various types of hearing protection devices are defined, including earplugs, earmuffs, and dual protection. Proper insertion techniques for earplugs are emphasized. Risk factors for noise-induced hearing loss are noise level, duration of exposure, and individual susceptibility.

1. Ozarks Technical Community College
HIS 125

2. 
What is your favorite COLOR?
 This
is an easy question for most people to
answer

Now, what is your favorite SOUND?
 Most
people have to think about this one 
 These
are two wonderful questions to ask your
patients to help them have a greater
appreciation for their hearing
 Because we live in such a visual world, we often
take our other senses for granted

3. 
Hearing healthcare professionals often
overlook the PREVENTION of noise-induced
hearing loss

Consider the following:
 Dentists
– encourage you to brush/floss, give out
toothbrushes after each cleaning
 We should be:


encouraging our patient’s to utilize hearing
protection in noisy situations
teaching them how and when to use it

4. 
Occupational Safety & Health Administration
 Branch
of the US Department of Labor, which
regulates employee health and safety
 OSHA regulates the use of hearing protection
devices (HPDs) for employees who work around
noise

5. 
OSHA determines if hearing protection is
required based on the employees timeweighted average (TWA), which is the
average dB exposure over an 8 hour shift
 This
is done by having employees wear a
dosimeter (a special sound level meter with a
microphone clipped onto the shoulder) to record
the noise exposure during their shift

According to OSHA, employers are required
to provide hearing conservation programs for
employees with a TWA ≥ 85 dBA

6. 
Earplugs
Foam
 Premolded
 Formable
 Custom
 Semi-insert



Berger, Chapter 10
Earmuffs
Helmets

7. Berger, Chapter 10

8. 


Foam earplugs provide the greatest
attenuation of all the hearing protection
devices (even more than a custom plug), BUT
most users do not achieve maximum
protection due to improper insertion
technique
When all else fails, put your fingertips in
your ears!
Dual protection (earplugs AND earmuffs) only
provides an extra 5 dB of attenuation
 Dual
protection is recommended when the 8 hr
TWA exceeds 105 dBA

9. 
Three steps:
 Roll
 Pinna Pull
 Insert and
Hold

Image from: tinnitus.org/au

10. 
ETY-Plugs (made by Etymotic
Research) provide a relatively
flat attenuation across
frequencies, which allows for
clearer hearing in noise
compared to a foam plug.

Foam plugs attenuate more in
the high frequencies,
resulting in “muffled”
hearing.

Great for listening to live
music or for someone who
needs hearing protection, but
who also needs to
communicate effectively with
others (i.e. MRI technician)

11. 

Used by NATO and the U.S. Military
Yellow end
 Filter
is open when it is quiet (O dB attenuation),
which allows for clear hearing in the absence of
impulse noise
 Filter closes with loud, impulse noise(23 dB
attenuation)

Black = normal, premolded ear plug

12. 
The risks of NIHL increase depending on:
 The
duration of the noise exposure
 The average dB level
 Peak dB levels

In order to reduce risk of hearing loss:
 Limiting
exposure
 Use of HPDs when exposed

General rule of thumb: if it is loud enough
that you have to shout to speak to someone
within arms reach of you, the level probably
exceeds 85 dBA and could cause hearing loss
if exposure time is long enough

13. 


Noise exposure can result in or exacerbate
tinnitus
Individuals with hearing loss are at an
increased risk for additional hearing loss due
to noise exposure
Individuals who are taking ototoxic
medications should be especially careful to
avoid loud noise exposure

14. 

In most situations, 10-15 dB of attenuation is
adequate
Always consider the 3 C’s to determine which
type of HPD is appropriate for the individual
 Comfort
 Convenience
 Communication

15. 
Earplugs are cheaper than hearing aids!