Noise and Hearing Loss
Noise induced hearing loss is a growing problem in the United States.
Noise induced hearing loss comes from prolonged exposure to any consistently
loud environment. Twenty-five percent of the work force in the United
States is regularly exposed to potentially damaging noise. (Suter and
Von Gierke, 1987). More than 30 million Americans are exposed to hazardous
sound levels on a regular basis. Noise induced hearing loss is not selective
in who it can affect; anyone from young children to the elderly can be
at risk of noise induced hearing loss.
Hearing awareness and information can help reduce this growing problem.
To obtain information on noise and hearing conservation as it relates
to hearing loss, contact the following resources or seek assistance from
your local library.
Bibliographies on Noise and Hearing Loss:
Bibliography of Noise Publications, 1972-1982. United States
Environmental Protection Agency, Headquarters Library, OANR, Washington,
DC 20460.
The EPA noise publications listed in this bibliography are a composite
of all materials developed and made available to the public through
the Office of Noise Abatement and Control between 1972 and 1982. In
1982, this program was phased out and the responsibility for Noise Abatement
and Control was delegated back to state and local governments. Subject
areas include: health and welfare, standards and regulations, technical
and federal programs, and state and local programs. Sources for obtaining
publications are given.
Noise and Hearing Loss: Current Bibliographies in Medicine,
prepared by Martha Glock and Ralph Naunton, Public Service Division, National
Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20894.
This bibliography was prepared in support of the National Institutes
of Health Consensus Development Conference titled, "Noise and Hearing
Loss" held on January 22-24, 1990. The bibliography consists primarily
of journal articles, dissertations, conference papers, and monographs
in all languages from January 1985 through December 1989. Topics addressed
included the characteristics of noise-related hearing loss, acoustic
parameters of hazardous noise exposure, individual and age-specific
susceptibility, and prevention strategies.
National Library of Medicine: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi
Enter the key words “noise induced hearing loss” to be
directed to 4,362 articles on different aspects and research about noise
induced hearing loss. The full text version of all articles found can
be accessed and read by the viewer. There are also a number of links
to other forms of hearing loss.
Environmental Protection Department: Environmental Noise Bibliography:
http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/noise_education/web/ENG_EPD_HTML/bibliography/bibliography.html
This bibliography provides readers with books and articles related
to environmental noise as a cause for noise induced hearing loss. The
titles include U.S, European, and World research about environmental
noise and laws pertaining to environmental noise levels for different
countries.
Hearing Conservation Materials:
Sertoma Foundation, 1912 East Meyer Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64132
Phone: 816-333-8300 Fax: 816-333-4320
Web site: http://www.sertoma.org/
E-mail: infosertoma@sertoma.com
SERTOMA works to assist people with speech, hearing and language disorders.
SERTOMA sponsors community projects to help establish programs and clubs
so groups of people can find support within their communities.
World Council on Hearing Health, 1050 17th Street NW, Washington, DC
20036
Phone: 202-887-5850 Fax: 202-293-1865
Web Site: http://www.wchh.com/
E-mail: info@wchh.com
Information is available related to current research and methods that
can be used in the work place and in society to combat noise-induced
hearing loss.
Hearing Protection Product Links:
The following Web sites offer consumers a variety of options when looking
for ear and hearing safety such as ear plugs, ear muffs, and the newest
in ear and hearing protection.
http://www.earplugsonline.com/u-industrial.html
http://www.allsafetyproducts.biz/site/323655/page/48637
http://www.allhearingprotection.com/
http://www.omarksafety.com/index.cfm
http://www.elvex.com/hearing-protection.htm
Additional Resources:
American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Inc., One
Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22316; 703-836-4444; Web site: http://www.entnet.org/,
E-mail: info@entnet.org, Noise,
Ears, and Hearing
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 10801 Rockville Pike, Rockville,
MD 20852; 301-897-5700, 800-638-8255; Web site: http://www.asha.org/,
E-mail: actioncenter@asha.org,
ASHA Answers Questions About Noise and Hearing Loss, Media Update:
Noise, Noise and Your Hearing; hearing conservation materials are
also distributed.
American Tinnitus Association, P.O. Box 5, Portland, OR 97207; Toll Free:
800-634-8978, 503-248-9985, Fax: 503-248-0024; Web site: http://www.ata.org/,
E-mail: tinnitus@ata.org, Noise:
Its effect on hearing and tinnitus.
Canadian Hearing Society, 271 Spadian Road, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
M5R 2V3. Web site: http://www.chs.ca/,
E-mail: info@chs.ca or office@toronto.cha.ca,
Noise, Noise Pollution, Portable Sound and You.
E.R.I.C. Document Repro Services, P.O. Box 190, Arlington, VA 22210;
703-440-1400, 800-443-3742, Fax: 703-440-1408. Web site: http://www.eric.ed.gov/,
E-mail: service@edrs.com, Preparing
for a Quieter Tomorrow, Sounds Alive: A Noise Workbook.
Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.), P.O. Box 460847,
San Francisco, CA 94146; 415-409-3277 (HEAR), Fax: 415-409-5683 (LOUD).
Web site: http://www.hearnet.com.
H.E.A.R. promotes education and awareness about hearing among those in
the rock industry; it urges using earplugs for hearing protection at rock
concerts, and reduction in sound volume.
Industrial Acoustics Company (IAC), Communications Department, 1160 Commerce
Avenue, Bronx, NY 10462. Noise Control Reference Handbook. IAC
has filled the pocket-sized 192-page book with definitions, charts, equations,
tables, figures, and photographs which help identify, evaluate, and solve
noise problems. The Handbook is useful for noise control in hospitals,
office buildings, hotels and convention centers. The Handbook is available
by request on company letterhead at $20 per copy, plus $3 for postage.
New York and Florida League for the Hard of Hearing. New York: 50 Broadway,
6th Floor, New York, NY 10004. Phone: 917-305-7700, TTY: 917-305-7999,
Fax: 917-305-7888. Florida: 2800 W. Oakland Park Blvd. Suite 306, Oakland
Park, FL 33311. Phone: 954-731-7200 (V/TTY), TTY: 954-731-7208, Fax: 954-458-6336.Web
site: http://www.lhh.org/. E-mail: info@lhh.org.
Warning: Noise Can Damage Your Hearing.
National Hearing Conservation Association. 9101 E. Kenyon Ave. Suite
3000, Denver, CO 80237. Phone: 303-224-9022, Fax: 303-770-1812. Web site:
http://www.hearingconservation.org/.
E-mail: nbca@gwami.com. Provides a
database for current work being done to reduce noise induced hearing loss
in all aspects of society. People can join the NHCA email list and be
kept informed of workshops, conferences and seminars offered by NHCA.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 200 Independence
Ave, SW. Washington DC 20201. Phone: 800-356-4674, Fax 513-533-8573, Web
Site: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html.
Working with OSHA, the mission of NIOSH is to assure safe and healthy
working conditions for all by providing research, information , education
and training in the field of occupational health.
Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc., 791 Woodmont Ave, Suit 1200,
Bethesda, MD 20814; 301-657-2248, TTY: 301-657-2249, Fax: 301-319-9413.
Web site: http://www.shhh.org/, E-mail:
info@hearingloss.org. Noise
Around Our Homes, Think Quietly About Noise, Noise: A Health Problem,
Noise and Your Hearing, Shhh Special Report on Noise, Hear Here!, Operation
SHHH.
Graphs and Testing Materials:
Below are hearing level graphs illustrating normal hearing and the most
common range of hearing loss due to noise.
The following Web site provides hearing loss simulation tests and materials:
http://www.phonak.com/consumer/hearing/hearingloss.htm
For hearing loss simulation material and general hearing loss information
(mailed to you), visit the following Web site:
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/AcousticalTest/HearingConservation/AuditoryDemonstrations2.htm
References for this Publication
1. Pictures from: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~lusk/sallynihl.html
2. Selected statistics from: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/
Special thanks to the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center’s
Debra Nussbaum, coordinator of the Cochlear
Implant Education Center, for her help in the development of this
document.
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