Daily Exposure Monitoring Intervention to Prevent Hearing Loss

描述（由申请人提供）：噪声性听力损失仍然是最常见的职业疾病之一，即使在符合OSHA的工作场所。预防职业性听力损失是国家职业研究议程（诺拉）的优先事项。每日噪声暴露监测（DEMON）研究是一项通过每日噪声暴露监测减少职业性噪声性听力损失的新技术现场干预试验。噪声暴露工人将被招募佩戴“暴露智能保护器”（ESP）设备，以取代他们的常规听力保护。ESP设备作为一个组合的听力保护器和噪声剂量计，测量工人的日常噪声“剂量”以及听力保护器内的峰值噪声暴露。工人每天都会收到有关噪声暴露的反馈，以优化听力保护的使用。将200名干预受试者的听力损失发生率与400名对照受试者的听力损失发生率进行比较，这些对照受试者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。这份修订后的授权申请包括重要的新的初步数据，表明Exposure Smart Protector设备既可以被工人长期使用作为听力保护的一种形式，也可以证明有可能减少职业性噪声引起的听力损失。相关性：有效使用听力保护是预防听力损失的一个关键方面，但在真实的世界环境中，听力保护的有效性差异很大。对大型工业雇主（美国铝业公司）听力损失率的分析表明，听力保护的差异使用可能是大多数职业性听力损失病例的原因。目前没有确保听力保护装置正确佩戴和功能的国家指南，迫切需要找到促进正确使用听力保护装置的方法。这项研究的结果可能对听力保护实践产生重大影响，为预防噪声性听力损失创造重要的新机会。

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.