Daily Exposure Monitoring Intervention to Prevent Hearing Loss

描述(由申请人提供)：噪声导致的听力损失仍然是最常见的职业病之一，即使在符合OSHA标准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)的优先事项。每日噪声暴露监测(DEMON)研究是一项工作场所干预试验，旨在通过日常噪声暴露监测来减少职业性噪声引起的听力损失。噪声暴露工人将被招募佩戴“暴露智能保护器”(ESP)设备，以取代他们惯常的听力保护。ESP设备作为听力保护器和噪声剂量计的组合，测量工人的日常噪音“剂量”以及听力保护器内部的峰值噪音暴露。工作人员每天都会收到有关噪音暴露的反馈，以优化听力保护的使用。200名干预对象的听力损失率将与400名对照组的听力损失率进行比较，后者将接受强化教育，并使用FitCheck系统进行听力保护器适合性测试。这份修订后的拨款申请包括重要的新初步数据，表明暴露式智能保护器装置既可作为听力保护的一种形式长期使用，又显示出降低职业性噪声引起的听力损失的潜力。相关性：有效使用听力保护是听力损失预防的一个关键方面，然而在现实世界中，听力保护的有效性差异很大。对大型工业雇主(美国铝业)听力损失率的分析表明，听力保护的不同使用可能占职业性听力损失案例的大部分。目前还没有确保听力保护装置正确匹配和功能的国家指南，迫切需要寻找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会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.