Evaluation of Hearing Loss in Farmworkers, Texas- Mexico Border Area

描述（由申请人提供）：职业性听力损失是美国最常见的职业病。它影响到所有工人，无论年龄、性别或工业部门。噪音引起的听力损失是百分之百可以预防的，一旦获得它是一种不可逆转的残疾。听力损失可能造成专业和经济困难，从而导致社会孤立和污名化。农业工作与成人和青年中听力损失的高发率有关。与高强度的田间工作和运输活动直接相关的农场工人有发生听力损失的潜在风险。方法：首次确定农场工人人群中听力损失问题的严重程度，这可能导致设计适当的听力保护计划。这一目标将通过一种有效的西班牙语调查工具来实现，这种工具在经济上和后勤上都是实用的，可用于调查弱势群体：讲西班牙语的农场工人的听力能力。一项针对农场工人的人口研究（n = 448）将基于访谈和听力测试评估他们的听力发病率和职业风险因素。数据分析将包括人口统计、工作经历、噪音和农药暴露、自我用药，以及西班牙语版的听力能力调查（HAS）。听力损失危险因素之间的关联强度将以粗比值比和调整比值比（OR）以及相应的95%对应置信区间进行评估。将使用显著因素与逻辑回归预测听力损失（z. 25db）。预期结果：本研究将为西班牙语农场工人的听力保护和预防计划制定预防策略。将利用与听力损失相关的职业危害以及这些工人所遇到的具体任务的知识来制定针对这一人群的目标干预措施的行动计划。此外，本研究的所有参与者将接受有关个人防护装备（PPE）和听力损失的信息和教育，并评估他们对PPE使用的看法。职业发展奖：首席研究员（PI）将评估农场工人中听力损失的患病率；开发一种具有成本效益的评估听力损失的方法，并在说西班牙语的农场工人中提出预防策略。PI将扩大她在流行病学，统计学和听力保护领域的能力和专业知识。相关性：本研究响应国家职业研究议程（NORA）混合暴露研究议程，根据部门具体方法解决农业中的健康问题。和先前NORA研究重点领域的地址：疾病和损伤下的听力损失；农场工人是工作不足和环境的特殊人口；并根据研究工具和方法开发了一种有效的双语仪器，用于估计农场工人的听力损失，从而改进了对职业病的跟踪。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Occupational hearing loss is the most common occupational disease in the United States. It affects all workers regardless of age, gender, or industrial sector. Noise-induced hearing loss is 100 percent preventable and once acquired it is an irreversible disability. Hearing loss may cause professional and financial difficulties leading to social isolation and stigmatization. Agriculture work has been associated with a high prevalence of hearing loss, both in adults and youth. Farmworkers directly associated with intense field work and transport activities, are potentially at risk for developing hearing loss. METHODS: To determine, for the first time, the magnitude of the problem of hearing loss in farmworker populations, which could lead to the design of appropriate hearing conservation programs. This goal will be achieved thorough use of a valid, Spanish survey instrument that is economically and logistically practical for use in investigations of hearing ability in a disadvantaged population: Spanish -speaking farmworkers. A population based study of farmworkers (n = 448) will assess their hearing morbidity and their occupational risk factors based on interviews and audiometric testing. Data analysis will include demographics, work history, noise and pesticide exposures, self medication, and the Spanish version of the Hearing Ability Survey (HAS). The strength of associations between hearing loss risks factors will be evaluated as the crude and adjusted odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% corresponding confidence intervals. Significant factors will be used with logistic regression to predict hearing loss (z. 25db). EXPECTED OUTCOMES: Preventive strategies will be formulated for hearing conservation and prevention programs among Spanish speaking farmworkers based on this study. Occupational hazards associated with hearing loss and knowledge of the specific tasks encountered by these workers will be used to develop a plan of action to target interventions for this population. In addition, all participants in this study will receive information and education about personal protective equipment (PPE) and hearing loss and their perceptions regarding use of PPE will be assessed. CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD: The Principal Investigator (PI) will assess the prevalence of hearing loss among farm workers; develop a cost-effective means of evaluating hearing loss and to propose prevention strategies in a Spanish speaking farmworker population. PI will expand her competences and expertise in the areas of epidemiology, statistics and hearing conservation. RELEVANCE: This research responds to the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) mixed exposures research agenda by addressing health concerns in agriculture under the sector-specific approach. And addresses under previous NORA research priority areas: Hearing loss under Disease and Injury; farm workers who are a special population underwork and Environment; and improved tracking of occupational diseases by the development of a valid bilingual instrument for estimating hearing loss of farm workers under Research Tools and Approaches.