Daily Exposure Monitoring Intervention to Prevent Hearing Loss

描述（由申请人提供）：噪音引起的听力损失仍然是最常见的职业障碍之一，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。噪声日暴露监测（DEMON）研究是一项通过日常噪声暴露监测来减少职业性噪声听力损失的新技术的现场干预试验。噪音暴露工人将被招募佩戴“暴露智能保护器”（ESP）设备来代替他们习惯的听力保护。ESP装置可作为听力保护器和噪音剂量计的组合，测量工人的日常噪音“剂量”以及听力保护器内的峰值噪音暴露。工人每天都会收到关于噪音暴露的反馈，以优化听力保护的使用。200名干预受试者的听力损失率将与400名对照者的听力损失率进行比较，这些对照者将接受强化教育，并使用FitCheck系统进行听力保护器匹配测试。这份修订后的拨款申请包括重要的新的初步数据，表明暴露智能保护器设备既可以被工人长期使用作为一种听力保护形式，也显示出减少职业性噪音引起的听力损失的潜力。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，然而在现实世界中，听力保护的效果差异很大。对一家大型工业雇主（美国铝业公司）的听力损失率分析表明，听力保护的不同使用可能是大多数职业性听力损失病例的原因。目前还没有确保听力保护的正确配合和功能的国家指南，迫切需要找到促进听力保护装置正确使用的方法。本研究结果可能对听力保护实践具有重要意义，为预防噪声性听力损失创造了重要的新机遇。

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.