Occupational noise exposure and asymmetric hearing loss: Results from the HUNT population study in Norway

Aarhus, Lisa; Engdahl, Bo

doi:10.1002/ajim.23105

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Unlike in preclinical studies, it cannot be assumed that a single subject experiences equal exposure to both ears. There is increasing evidence of asymmetric NIHL ( Segal et al, 2007 ; Akin et al, 2012 ; Sturman et al, 2018 ; Aarhus and Engdahl, 2020 ; Sommerfeldt et al, 2021 ) and NIVL profiles ( Wang and Young, 2007 ; Akin et al, 2012 ). In occupational workers in particular, shadowing from the head positioning during tasks and other environmental factors may lead to differences in exposures at each ear [summarized in Le et al (2017) ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peripheral vestibular loss in noise-exposed firefighters

Snapp,

Vanlooy,

Kuzbyt

et al. 2023

Front. Integr. Neurosci.

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IntroductionOccupational workers are increasingly aware of the risk of noise overexposure to the auditory system but lack awareness about potential risks to the vestibular system. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in vestibular end organ function in a known at-risk noise-exposed population, firefighters compared to age- and sex-matched controls using electrophysiologic measures of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP).MethodsA cross-sectional observational study compared cVEMP response characteristics in 38 noise-exposed firefighters. Firefighters were grouped by years of exposure in the fire service. The cVEMP responses were compared within firefighter groups and between firefighters and age- and sex-matched controls. Dependent variables included the response characteristics of amplitude, latency and threshold.ResultscVEMP response amplitudes were significantly decreased in firefighters compared to their age- and sex-matched controls. Threshold of the cVEMP responses were significantly higher in firefighters compared to controls and firefighters had a higher incidence of absent cVEMP responses compared to controls. Response amplitudes decreased with increasing years in the fire-service at an increased rate compared to their age- and sex-matched controls. Latency of the cVEMP response was not significantly different in firefighters compared to controls. These findings are consistent with both animal and human studies suggesting noise-induced changes in the sacculocollic pathway.DiscussionIn the absence of any reported vestibular symptoms or auditory indicators of noise-induced hearing loss, these early effects on the vestibular system point to a potential hidden vestibular loss.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peripheral vestibular loss in noise-exposed firefighters

Snapp,

Vanlooy,

Kuzbyt

et al. 2023

Front. Integr. Neurosci.

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“…In other words, the 20‐year hearing decline was continuously scored and investigated separately at each frequency (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz). Generally, occupations have diffuse noise exposures that do not result in asymmetrical hearing loss 10 …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Generally, occupations have diffuse noise exposures that do not result in asymmetrical hearing loss. 10…”

Section: Outcome Variable: Hearing Threshold Declinementioning

confidence: 99%

No accelerated 20‐year hearing decline after occupational noise exposure has ceased: The HUNT study

Aarhus,

Molaug,

Engdahl

2023

American J Industrial Med

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ObjectivesIt has been suggested that noise exposure can accelerate hearing decline after the noise exposure has ceased. We aimed to assess long‐term hearing decline in persons with and without prior occupational noise exposure.MethodsWe conducted a population‐based longitudinal study in Norway using the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) from 1996 to 1998 (baseline) and from 2017 to 2019 (follow‐up). The sample included 1648 participants with baseline age ≥55 years (42% men, mean age 60 years) and <5 years occupational noise exposure after baseline. We analyzed the association between occupational noise exposure before baseline and mean hearing decline between 1998 and 2018 (20‐year decline) at each frequency, adjusted for age, sex, education, and impulse noise exposure before baseline.ResultsOccupational noise exposure before baseline (N = 603) was associated with baseline hearing loss, but not with later accelerated 20‐year decline, at any frequency. Noise‐exposed persons had less subsequent 20‐year decline at 3 kHz than did nonexposed. Restricting the noise‐exposed group to persons who also had a baseline Coles notch (hearing thresholds at 3, 4, or 6 kHz of 10 dB or more compared with thresholds at 1 or 2 kHz and 6 or 8 kHz; N = 211), the exposed group showed less 20‐year decline at both 3 and 4 kHz, as well as less accelerated 20‐year decline at 8 kHz, compared with the nonexposed.ConclusionOur large long‐term longitudinal study shows no increased risk of continuing hearing decline after occupational noise exposure has ceased. The finding supports a conclusion that ear damage stops when the noise exposure is ended.

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“…Thus, despite the absence of an explicit rationale for including two PTAs in the analyses of US epidemiological data on audiometric hearing loss, doing so has clearly been the norm in these analyses for many years. The use of two PTAs, specifically PTA512 and PTA346, has been commonplace in recent epidemiological studies in other countries as well (e.g., Aarhus & Engdahl, 2020 ; Wang et al, 2016 ; Wang et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Easy as 1-2-3: Development and Evaluation of a Simple yet Valid Audiogram-Classification System

Humes,

Zapala

2024

Trends in Hearing

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Almost since the inception of the modern-day electroacoustic audiometer a century ago the results of pure-tone audiometry have been characterized by an audiogram. For almost as many years, clinicians and researchers have sought ways to distill the volume and complexity of information on the audiogram. Commonly used approaches have made use of pure-tone averages (PTAs) for various frequency ranges with the PTA for 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz (PTA4) being the most widely used for the categorization of hearing loss severity. Here, a three-digit triad is proposed as a single-number summary of not only the severity, but also the configuration and bilateral symmetry of the hearing loss. Each digit in the triad ranges from 0 to 9, increasing as the level of the pure-tone hearing threshold level (HTL) increases from a range of optimal hearing (< 10 dB Hearing Level; HL) to complete hearing loss (≥ 90 dB HL). Each digit also represents a different frequency region of the audiogram proceeding from left to right as: (Low, L) PTA for 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz; (Center, C) PTA for 3000, 4000 and 6000 Hz; and (High, H) HTL at 8000 Hz. This LCH Triad audiogram-classification system is evaluated using a large United States (U.S.) national dataset (N = 8,795) from adults 20 to 80 + years of age and two large clinical datasets totaling 8,254 adults covering a similar age range. Its ability to capture variations in hearing function was found to be superior to that of the widely used PTA4.

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Occupational noise exposure and asymmetric hearing loss: Results from the HUNT population study in Norway

Cited by 7 publications

References 31 publications

Peripheral vestibular loss in noise-exposed firefighters

Peripheral vestibular loss in noise-exposed firefighters

No accelerated 20‐year hearing decline after occupational noise exposure has ceased: The HUNT study

Easy as 1-2-3: Development and Evaluation of a Simple yet Valid Audiogram-Classification System

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