Daily Exposure Monitoring Intervention to Prevent Hearing Loss

每日暴露监测干预措施以预防听力损失

• 批准号: 7262786
• 负责人: PETER MACGARR RABINOWITZ
• 金额: $ 41.25万
• 依托单位: YALE UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-07-01 至 2011-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7262786
• 关键词: Daily; Exposure; Monitoring; Intervention; Prevent

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Noise-induced hearing loss continues to be one of the most common occupational disorders, even in OSHA compliant workplaces. Prevention of occupational hearing loss is a priority of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). The Daily Exposure Monitoring of Noise (DEMON) study is a worksite intervention trial of new technology to reduce occupational noise-induced hearing loss through daily noise exposure monitoring. Noise-exposed workers will be recruited to wear an "Exposure Smart Protector" (ESP) device in place of their customary hearing protection. The ESP device functions as a combined hearing protector and noise dosimeter, measuring a worker's daily noise "dose" as well as peak noise exposures inside of the hearing protectors. Workers receive daily feedback about noise exposures in order to optimize hearing protection usage. Rates of hearing loss occurring in the 200 intervention subjects will be compared to rates in 400 controls who will receive enhanced education and hearing protector fit testing using the FitCheck system. This revised grant submission includes important new preliminary data indicating that the Exposure Smart Protector device is both tolerated by workers for long term use as a form of hearing protection, and also demonstrates potential to reduce occupational noise-induced hearing loss. Relevance: Effective use of hearing protection is a critical aspect of hearing loss prevention, yet in real world settings, hearing protection effectiveness varies widely. Analysis of hearing loss rates for a large industrial employer (Alcoa) indicates differential usage of hearing protection may account for the majority of occupational hearing loss cases. There are currently no national guidelines for ensuring correct fit and function of hearing protection, and there is an urgent need to find ways to promote the correct use of hearing protective devices. The results of this study could have major implications for hearing conservation practice, creating important new opportunities for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss.

描述（由申请人提供）：噪声引起的听力损失仍然是最常见的职业病之一，即使在符合 OSHA 的工作场所也是如此。预防职业性听力损失是国家职业研究议程 (NORA) 的首要任务。噪声每日暴露监测（DEMON）研究是一项新技术的工作现场干预试验，旨在通过每日噪声暴露监测来减少职业噪声引起的听力损失。将招募暴露于噪音的工人佩戴“暴露智能保护器”（ESP）设备来代替他们惯用的听力保护装置。 ESP 设备充当听力保护器和噪声剂量计的组合，测量工人的日常噪声“剂量”以及听力保护器内部的峰值噪声暴露。工作人员每天都会收到有关噪音暴露的反馈，以优化听力保护装置的使用。 200 名干预对象的听力损失率将与 400 名对照组的发生率进行比较，对照组将接受强化教育并使用 FitCheck 系统进行听力保护器适合性测试。这份修订后的赠款申请包括重要的新初步数据，表明暴露智能保护器设备作为一种听力保护形式可以长期使用，并且还显示出减少职业噪声引起的听力损失的潜力。相关性：有效使用听力保护装置是预防听力损失的一个重要方面，但在现实世界中，听力保护装置的有效性差异很大。对大型工业雇主（美国铝业公司）听力损失率的分析表明，听力保护的不同使用可能是职业性听力损失病例的大部分原因。目前尚无确保听力保护装置正确佩戴和功能的国家指南，迫切需要找到方法来促进听力保护装置的正确使用。这项研究的结果可能对听力保护实践产生重大影响，为预防噪音引起的听力损失创造重要的新机会。