Hearing Research – Current Insights

 Posted: November 3, 2021

  • NIOSH researchers recently completed a study of hearing protection device (HPD) non-use among noise-exposed workers in 2007 and 2014. It was found that there was no significant change in non-use between 2007 and 2014. HPD non-use varied widely by industry and occupation, and 53% of noise-exposed workers did not wear their HPDs regularly.

    Green, D. R., Masterson, E. A., & Themann, C. L. (in press). Prevalence of hearing protection device non-use among noise-exposed U.S. workers in 2007 and 2014. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajim.23291
  • This study assessed the association of self-reported noise exposure and audiograms collected from NHANES, with 10 algorithms proposed to quantify noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). A new algorithm, the Adjusted Notch Depth (AND), was marginally better than other algorithms in identifying those with self-reported noise exposure. However, the researchers concluded that their findings do not support the use of pure tone thresholds for identifying NIHL alone.

    Pudrith, C., Phillips, S., and Labban, J. (2021). Association of self-reported noise exposure and audiograms processed with algorithms proposed to quantify noise-induced hearing loss, International Journal of Audiology. Published online ahead of print. DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2021.1983216
  • This tutorial provides an overview of the field of epidemiology with special application to audiology and the study of hearing loss. The most common epidemiologic study designs, measures of frequency, and measures of association are highlighted and discussed. 

    Torre, P. and Reavis, K. (2021). Fundamentals of Epidemiology for the Audiologist, Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, Vol. 6, Issue 5, 1113-1122. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_PERSP-20-00241
  • Who knew acoustics had so many applications? Check out this cool article from Stanford Medicine to learn how researchers are using sound in novel ways, such as mapping the whereabouts of mosquitos, creating Faraday waves to align heart tissues for improved diagnosis and treatment, creating a brain stethoscope to listen to the brain and recognize brain seizures, and implantable devices powered and recharged by sound. Click here.