Communication Strategies Between Occupational Hearing Conservationists and Spanish-Speaking Workers

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This survey study investigated current hearing loss prevention practices among 300 certified occupational hearing conservationists (OHCs) with regard to service delivery to Spanish-speaking workers. OHCs responded to a written survey designed to investigate the current service delivery methods and strategies used by OHCs when providing services to Spanish-speaking workers specific to the audiometric testing, hearing protection, and training program components of hearing loss prevention programs (HLPPs). Data analyses outcomes indicated that there is a statistically significant relationship between certified OHCs' perceived proficiency in Spanish (ability to speak, understand, and/or read/write Spanish) and their perceived ability to communicate (effectively exchange information), their competence level (possessing the requisite knowledge and skills), and their confidence (self-perceived ability) when providing HLPP services to workers who primarily speak Spanish. There is a significant difference between the services provided to Spanish-speaking workers by Spanish-speaking and non-Spanish-speaking OHCs. Consequently, Spanish-speaking workers may not be receiving care comparable to their English-speaking coworkers. Implications from this study suggest the need for expanded training of certified OHCs relative to multicultural/linguistic issues and additional language-relevant hearing loss prevention resources to effectively provide HLPP services to this growing minority population.