Use Of Hearing Protection Devices Research Articles

Noise Exposure, Prevention, and Control in Agriculture and Forestry: A Scoping Review

Noise is a major physical hazard in agricultural activities, and numerous research activities have managed to detect its effects, resulting in surveys and measurements which help to define exposure limits, prevention methods, and control strategies. This review aims to collect and analyse the data from research studies and to provide a comprehensive overview on the subject. Thus, a set of 81 papers, gathered from the Scopus and PubMed scientific databases, has been analysed to provide information regarding the evolution of noise exposure levels over time, to highlight findings on noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and to list strategies for noise prevention and control in agriculture. Bibliographic research showed that noise measurements between 1991 and 2022, included in scientific research on farming, forestry, and animal husbandry, mainly reported values beyond the threshold of 85 dB(A); furthermore, several research activities on NIHL showed that farmers’ family members and children are often exposed to high levels of noise. Lastly, an analysis of the prevention and control strategies over time is provided, focusing on prevention programmes, screening, and the use of hearing protection devices (HPD). The identified literature suggests that additional efforts are required in regards to machinery design relating to the socio-technical aspects of agricultural activities and that side-effects of NIHL, as well as the negative impact of noise on other risks, might deserve further investigation.

Noise-induced hearing loss and hearing protection: Attitudes at a South African coal mine.

Negative attitudes and beliefs are major contributing factors to the rising numbers of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) cases in coal mines both locally and internationally. International literature confirms limited knowledge surrounding employees' attitudes and beliefs regarding NIHL and hearing protection devices (HPDs), hence the need for the study. To ascertain the attitudes and beliefs about NIHL and HPD use among employees at a large scale underground coal mine in Mpumalanga. A descriptive and exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire, developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on Beliefs about Hearing Protection and Hearing Loss (BHPHL). Participants (n= 241) included employees from a coal mine in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Out of 241 completed surveys, this study found that 84% were aware of when to replace earmuffs; 95% believed wearing HPDs could prevent hearing loss in noisy environments; 83% felt their hearing was impacted by loud noise. Additionally, 86% mentioned discomfort from earmuff pressure; 95% emphasised HPD importance; and 95% used HPDs around loud sounds. Moreover, 98% knew how to properly wear earplugs, while lower education levels were linked to higher susceptibility to NIHL. The study identified positive attitudes towards NIHL and HPD use, but existing NIHL cases must be acknowledged. Organisations can use the findings to develop tailored hearing conservation programmes (HCP), including education, involving employees in protection decisions and promoting diligent HPD usage.Contribution:This study contributes to the limited literature on noise perceptions, NIHL, and HPD use in mining, emphasising the impact attitude has on HPD use and assessing the effect of miners NIHL knowledge on compliance. The findings, unique to coal mining, hold significance for enhancing hearing conservation and reducing NIHL.

Accounting for individual differences in the effects of hearing protectors on sound source localization

Modern hearing protection devices (HPDs) mitigate the risk of noise-induced hearing loss when used as intended, but negative auditory perceptual side-effects continue to limit usability in critical settings. Dozens of studies, including previous studies by our group, have shown that HPDs lead to significant errors in sound source localization, including large errors in source elevation perception and disorienting front-back confusions. Degradation of performance relative to open-ear listening arises due to peripheral disruptions of monaural and binaural acoustic cues for sound localization; for higher-attenuation devices, reduced audibility can also limit access to these cues, even if cues are relatively intact. A recent multi-site effort by our group leveraged manikin-based acoustic measurements of HPD-induced signal distortions to predict human localization performance during HPD use. Manikin-based acoustic metrics were positively correlated with behavioral performance across a large population of human listeners (n ≥ 120), enabling discrimination of localization impacts across HPDs, but significant individual variability was evident. Here we consider individual factors that may contribute to variability in HPD localization impact across wearers, including audiometric factors and auricular/acoustic factors. Correlational analyses of individualized predictors with localization performance provide new insight on factors that may differentially constrain – or facilitate – sound localization during HPD use.

The Effect of a Web-Based Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Prevention Program on Hearing Protection Device Behavior Among Thai Navy Officers: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Navy officers working on the coastal guard vessels risk hearing loss due to repeated exposure to high noise levels from ship engines. Therefore, proper use of hearing protection devices is important. In this study, a web-based hearing loss prevention program was developed to promote the behavior of the use of hearing protection devices among Thai navy officers working on coastal guard vessels. In total, 152 navy personnel were recruited based on selection criteria and randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 76) and control groups (n = 76). The participants in the experimental group received the hearing loss prevention program via a website over four weeks. After completing the program, hearing protection device behavior was evaluated by a self-report questionnaire immediately after and at eight weeks follow-up. The results showed significantly increasing scores of the use of hearing protection devices behavior within the experimental group, both immediately and eight weeks after the program completion. However, there were no significant differences in the scores when comparing between groups, even though the scores of the experimental group were better than those in the control group. The restrictions could be explained by some emerging events during the implementation period, including the COVID-19 pandemic followed by a massive oil spill incident at sea. These put an extra workload on the study participants. Most importantly, there was a problem with the network connection that might have affected the continuation of participant attention to the program. Although this study found no effective results of the developed program due to some limitations, nurses can adopt this protective intervention to reduce the risk of occupational noise-induced hearing loss among Navy officers. Therefore, a recommendation for further study is to develop an intervention program that considers both the working context of the coastal vessels and appropriate participation methods that require more challenging efforts.

A current affair: worker perceptions of noise exposure and occupational hearing loss in Australian coal mines.

The objective of the online survey was to determine worker attitudes towards, perceptions on hearing loss, and management of workplace noise; and to identify barriers within current strategies that prevent effective management of hearing health in Australian mines. This cross-sectional study utilized a modified survey design, initially designed for use by Safe Work Australia for a broader study published in 2010. The survey questionnaire was made available online to volunteer participants, recruited with the assistance of State and National Health and Safety, and mining organizations. Volunteer participants were required to be proficient in English, be employed by an Australian underground or open cut mine, including coal processing plants; or work as a contractor on one of the specified mine sites. All mining employees, regardless of occupation, job title, and occupational hearing loss classification or status, were invited to complete the questionnaire. Almost 60% of respondents indicated that they had high noise exposure for than 10 yr or more, and have some trouble hearing, mostly associated with infrequent tinnitus. Nearly 71% of these workers believe that the noise control strategies in their workplaces are effective, but this mostly refers to the use of hearing protection devices. The results indicate that general knowledge on the cause and effect of noise exposure in the workplace is well understood. However, due to the long latency associated with the development of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), there is an issue urgency in terms of risk management. It is surprising that most of the respondents recommended more inspections and administrative controls, especially since most respondents were health, safety, and environment (HSE) professionals. HSE professionals should be advocating for higher order, more permanent solutions, and not purely administrative controls and personal protective equipment. These findings raise the question of whether there is a multifaceted working-culture issue that needs to be addressed, in combination with higher order control implementation.

Long-Term Hearing Loss after Acute Acoustic Trauma inthe French Military: A Retrospective Study.

Acute acoustic trauma (AAT) is characterized by cochlea-vestibular signs following intense noise exposure, often caused by impulse noise. French military faces a high risk of AAT because of the use of weapons with peak sound levels exceeding 150 dB. Hearing loss (HL) resulting from AAT can have a significant impact on quality of life and operational capacity. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of long-term hearing impairment after AAT. The study involved a retrospective review of computer-based patient records from four military medical centers in Northeast France between January 2016 and December 2021. The inclusion criteria required the presence of cochlea-vestibular signs following impulse acoustic exposure and the absence of other causes. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, including audiometric data before and after exposure. The primary end point was the presence of a threshold elevation greater than 10 dB between reference and late audiograms. A total of 419 patients were included in the analysis, with a majority of males (n = 419; 84.7%) and a mean age of 23.6 yrs. The most common causative agent was the 5.56-mm assault rifle (n = 327; 78.0%). Tinnitus was the most frequent symptom (n = 366; 87.4%), followed by hypoacusis (n = 147; 35.1%) and earache (n = 89; 21.2%). The initial audiograms showed no HL in 31.0% of cases, while the mean deficit across all frequencies was 15.4 dB. All patients received corticosteroid therapy, with a mean duration of 6.0 d. Late audiograms conducted at an average interval of 448.0 d after AAT revealed a prevalence of long-term HL exceeding 20%. Higher doses of corticosteroid therapy (>1 mg/kg) were associated with a reduced frequency of long-term HL. This study highlights the prevalence of long-term hearing impairment after AAT in the French military. The findings emphasize the importance of preventive measures, including proper use of hearing protection devices, and the need for timely diagnosis and treatment. Further research is warranted to explore gender susceptibility to AAT and evaluate the impact of different weapons on AAT characteristics. The study also underscores the potential benefits of higher doses of corticosteroid therapy in reducing the risk of long-term hearing impairment. Overall, the findings contribute to a better understanding of AAT and can inform strategies for its prevention and management in military settings.

Healthcare Professionals and Noise-Generating Tools: Challenging Assumptions about Hearing Loss Risk.

Hearing loss is a significant global health concern, affecting billions of people and leading to various physical, mental, and social consequences. This paper focuses on the risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among specific healthcare professionals, especially ear surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, dentists, and dental hygienists, who frequently use noisy instruments in their professions. While studies on these professionals' noise exposure levels are limited, certain conditions and factors could pose a risk to their hearing. Measures such as engineering and administrative controls, regular audiometric testing, and the use of hearing protection devices are crucial in preventing NIHL. Early detection and intervention are also vital to mitigate further damage. This paper proposes the results of a modified screening protocol, including questionnaires, audiometry, and additional diagnostic tests to identify and address potential hearing disorders. Specific healthcare professionals should remain aware of the risks, prioritize hearing protection, and undergo regular monitoring to safeguard their long-term auditory well-being.

Noise levels at traffic intersections and awareness of noise pollution among traffic policemen and automobile drivers

Introduction: Noise pollution is an important health hazard in modern times and traffic policemen and automobile drivers are exposed to unregulated vehicular noise. This study aims to estimate the exposure levels from traffic noise for traffic policemen and automobile drivers and assess their awareness regarding noise pollution and the use of noise prevention measures. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out comprising the exposed and the control group with 121 people in each group. Sound level estimation was carried out across 20 traffic intersections in the city at various times to assess the noise levels. All the participants were administered a pretested questionnaire to assess their awareness regarding noise pollution and as well as the use of noise prevention strategies. The chi-square test was used to estimate the difference between the two groups. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The noise levels at traffic intersections are above the permitted and acceptable limits. The mean ±SD of sound levels at traffic points range from 76.7±5.8 dB to 83.4±6.3 dB across various traffic intersections. The mean noise level at the traffic intersection was in the high-risk category (81-86dB) in 25% of traffic points while 75% of traffic points had noise levels in the moderate risk (76 - 81dB) category. 88% of the exposed group and 95% of the control group considered noise to be a form of pollution even though they were not aware of all the harmful effects. In practice, only 34% of study participants used some form of hearing protection measures, even though the majority were aware of the need to do so. Conclusion: The noise levels at traffic intersections are high. This is coupled with a lack of adequate use of hearing protective devices which can be detrimental to the inner ear. Frequent awareness programs are necessary to educate the occupationally exposed personnel on proper noise prevention strategies. At the same, time it is necessary to take decisive measures to curb the ever-increasing menace of occupational noise exposure.

Analisis Intensitas Kebisingan pada Area Fabrikasi PT XYZ Bintan

Noise in the industrial sector of a company caused by the use of machines and working tools to support the production process. Noise levels that exceed the threshold limit can lead to hearing loss and the risk of damage to the ears, both temporary and permanent after exposure for a certain period of time without the use of adequate protective equipment. This potential risk encourages governments in various countries to make regulations that limit the level of noise in the industry. This research was carried out by observing and measuring directly on the research object, namely by using a Sound Level Meter and repeating the data 4 times at each point of data collection on noise intensity. An analysis of the noise intensity in the PT XYZ Bintan fabrication area was carried out in order to create a working environment that is safe, comfortable and conducive and can overcome the hazards caused by the noise generated. The noise level in the PT XYZ Bintan fabrication area does not fully meet the standard noise standards in the work environment according to the Minister of Manpower Regulation Number 5 of 2018, which is 85 dBA. The results of capturing the distribution of Leq noise that have been made show that the noise level at Workshop 5 and Workshop 8 has passed the required quality standards, namely 95.1 dBA and 93.5 dBA respectively. While Workshop 9 and Workshop 10 the noise level was close to the quality standard, namely 84.3 dBA and 84.8 dBA. Mitigation efforts that have been carried out by PT XYZ Bintan are hearing protection including the use of hearing protection devices, audiometric testing as well as motivation and reduction of noise problems.

Development and initial validation of questionnaire on predictors for the use of hearing protection devices among noise exposed manufacturing workers in Tanzania: A methodological study.

The use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) has been an intervention of choice in many workplaces such as in the construction industry for quite some time due to impractical effects of engineering and administrative interventions. Questionnaires for assessment for HPDs use among construction workers have been developed and validated in developed countries. However, there is limited knowledge of the same, among manufacturing workers in developing countries that are assumed to have a different culture, work organizations and production processes. We conducted a stepwise methodological study to develop a questionnaire to predict the use of HPDs among noise exposed workers in manufacturing factories in Tanzania. The questionnaire included 24 items and was developed through rigorous and systematic procedures involving three steps; (i) item formulation that involved two experts, (ii) expert content review and item rating that involving eight experts with vast experience in the field, and (iii) a field pre-test that involved 30 randomly selected workers from a factory with similar characteristics as a planned study site. A modified Pender's Health Promotion Model was adopted in the questionnaire development. We analyzed the questionnaire in terms of content validity and item reliability. The 24 items were categorized into seven domains i.e., perceived self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, interpersonal influences, situational influences and safety climate. The score for content validity for each item was satisfactory as the content validity index ranged between 0.75 to 1.00 for clarity, relevance, and essentiality criteria. Similarly, the scores for the content validity ratio (for all items) were 0.93, 0.88 and 0.93 for clarity, relevance, and essentiality, respectively. In addition, the overall value for Cronbach's alpha was 0.92 with domain coefficients: perceived self-efficacy 0.75; perceived susceptibility 0.74; perceived benefits 0.86; perceived barriers 0.82; interpersonal influences 0.79; situational influences; 0.70; and safety climate 0.79. The mean inter-item correlation was 0.49 suggesting good internal consistency. The developed and preliminary validated questionnaire can be used to predict the HPDs use among noise exposed manufacturing factory workers. Future surveys using this questionnaires warranted for further validation of the scale developed.

Monitoring Occupational Noise Exposure in Firefighters Using the Apple Watch.

Occupational noise exposure and hearing loss are prominent in the fire service. Firefighters are routinely exposed to hazardous levels of noise arising from the tools and equipment they use, from sirens and alarm tones to the emergency response vehicles they drive. The present study utilized the Apple Watch to continuously measure environmental noise levels for on-duty firefighters. Participants included 15 firefighters from the metropolitan South Florida area, and 25 adult non-firefighter control subjects. Firefighters were recruited from a variety of roles across two stations to ensure noise exposure profiles were appropriately representative of exposures in the fire service. All participants wore an Apple Watch for up to three separate 24 h shifts and completed a post-shift survey self-reporting on perceived exposures over the 24 h study period. Cumulative exposures were calculated for each shift and noise dose was calculated relative to the NIOSH recommended exposure limit of 85 dBA as an 8 h time-weighted average. The maximum dBA recorded on the Apple Watches was statistically significant between groups, with firefighters experiencing a median of 87.79 dBA and controls a median of 77.27 dBA. Estimated Exposure Time at 85 dBA (EET-85) values were significantly higher for firefighters when compared to controls: 3.97 h (range: 1.20-14.7 h) versus 0.42 h (range: 0.05-8.21 h). Only 2 of 16 firefighters reported the use of hearing protection devices during their shifts. Overall, our results highlight the utility of a commonly used personal device to quantify noise exposure in an occupationally at-risk group.

Hearing protection and damage mitigation in Chinchillas exposed to repeated low-intensity blasts

Repeated exposures to blast overpressure (BOP) introduce hearing complaints in military service members even with the use of hearing protection devices (HPDs). Although epidemiology and animal studies have been performed to investigate the damage formation mechanism of blast-induced hearing damage, there is still a lack of understanding and therapeutic solutions, especially for HPD-protected ears. Recent studies revealed the potential therapeutic function of liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, to facilitate post-blast hearing restoration in chinchillas. This study is a continuation and summary of the previous studies performed by Jiang et al. (2021, 2022) to investigate the damage mitigation function of liraglutide treatment in chinchillas with open and protected ears after repeated low-intensity blast exposures within 28 days of observation.Chinchillas were divided into six experimental groups: pre-blast treatment, post-blast treatment, and blast control with ears open or protected by earplug (EP). All animals were exposed to six consecutive blasts at the level of 3–5 psi (21–35 kPa) on Day 1. Hearing function tests including auditory brainstem response (ABR), distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), and middle latency response (MLR) were performed on Day 1 (pre- and post-blast) and Days 4, 7, 14, and 28 after blast exposure.Results indicated that the damage mitigation function of the liraglutide treatment in the open-ear chinchillas was reflected by the significantly lower ABR threshold shifts in the drug treatment groups than in the blast controls. In EP groups, the higher ABR wave I/V ratio and lower MLR amplitude observed in the drug-treated chinchillas suggested that the post-blast hyperactivities in the auditory system might be potentially ameliorated by the liraglutide treatment. The 28-day-long experiment showed the effect of liraglutide treatment increased with time in both open and EP groups.This study demonstrated that the use of HPDs prevented the blast-induced complications in the middle ear and reduced the damage caused in the central auditory system. The liraglutide treatment showed an effect increasing with time and different outcomes in open and EP chinchillas. This innovation in the animal model of chinchilla provides insights to investigate subtle changes in the higher-level structures of the auditory system.

Effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing in Increasing Use of Hearing Protection Devices Among Agricultural Producers.

Agricultural producers are frequently exposed to noise that is hazardous to their hearing and cardiovascular health, and have among the highest rates of noise-induced hearing loss of all occupations. However, despite information-sharing approaches, few producers wear sufficient hearing protection. There is a need to develop effective methods of protecting producers from their noise exposure. We provided a series of 2 to 3 short (30-minute) telephone-based motivational interviewing (MI) sessions to noise-exposed agricultural producers. We assessed intervention effectiveness through changes in measuring hearing protector use pre- and post-intervention using a one-group pre/posttest design. The sample (N = 29) predominantly consisted of crop producers from Michigan. The mean percentage of time hearing protection was used increased from 44.9% to 51.8% after the intervention, approximately a 7% increase (p =.105). Regression analysis suggested the relationship between intervention dose and use of hearing protection was not correlative. There was a marginal increase in the use of hearing protection after the intervention, although setting-specific increases in use were uneven. Intervention dose did not correlate with a change in hearing protection use. Further research is warranted to determine the effectiveness of MI, how it compares to information sharing, and to identify intervention dose parameters that promote efficiency.

The effects of hearing protection devices on spatial awareness in complex listening environments.

Hearing protection devices (HPDs) remain the first line of defense against hazardous noise exposure and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Despite the increased awareness of NIHL as a major occupational health hazard, implementation of effective hearing protection interventions remains challenging in at-risk occupational groups including those in public safety that provide fire, emergency medical, or law enforcement services. A reduction of situational awareness has been reported as a primary barrier to including HPDs as routine personal protective equipment. This study examined the effects of hearing protection and simulated NIHL on spatial awareness in ten normal hearing subjects. In a sound-attenuating booth and using a head-orientation tracker, speech intelligibility and localization accuracy were collected from these subjects under multiple listening conditions. Results demonstrate that the use of HPDs disrupts spatial hearing as expected, specifically localization performance and monitoring of speech signals. There was a significant interaction between hemifield and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), with speech intelligibility significantly affected when signals were presented from behind at reduced SNR. Results also suggest greater spatial hearing disruption using over-the-ear HPDs when compared to the removal of high frequency cues typically associated with NIHL through low-pass filtering. These results are consistent with reduced situational awareness as a self-reported barrier to routine HPD use, and was evidenced in our study by decreased ability to make accurate decisions about source location in a controlled dual-task localization experiment.

Translation, adaptation, and cross-cultural validation into Brazilian portuguese of the hearing protection assessment questionnaire (HPA)

The aim of the present study is to translate, adapt, and cross-culturally validate the Brazilian Portuguese version of the questionnaire Hearing Protection Assessment Questionnaire (HPA). The original instrument, developed in English, seeks to assess barriers and supports related to the use of hearing protection devices (HPD), as well as workers' knowledge, habits and attitudes towards occupational noise. The translation, adaptation, and cross-cultural validation of the questionnaire consisted of five steps: Translation of the questionnaire from English to Portuguese; 2) Reverse translation from Portuguese to English; 3) Analysis of the instrument by three experts in the field; 4) Pre-test of the questionnaire with ten workers; 5) Application of the instrument to 509 workers in a meatpacking industry after the pre-employment medical exam. The results indicate the construction and content validity of the Brazilian Portuguese version for use with a working population and its internal consistency. This study resulted in the translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the Hearing Protection Assessment Questionnaire (HPA), in order to be used to assess the use of individual hearing protection in the occupational field, called Hearing Protection Assessment Questionnaire (HPA).

Tradução, adaptação e validação transcultural para o português brasileiro do questionário de Avaliação da Proteção Auditiva (APA)

ABSTRACT Purpose The aim of the present study is to translate, adapt, and cross-culturally validate the Brazilian Portuguese version of the questionnaire Hearing Protection Assessment Questionnaire (HPA). Methods The original instrument, developed in English, seeks to assess barriers and supports related to the use of hearing protection devices (HPD), as well as workers' knowledge, habits and attitudes towards occupational noise. The translation, adaptation, and cross-cultural validation of the questionnaire consisted of five steps: Translation of the questionnaire from English to Portuguese; 2) Reverse translation from Portuguese to English; 3) Analysis of the instrument by three experts in the field; 4) Pre-test of the questionnaire with ten workers; 5) Application of the instrument to 509 workers in a meatpacking industry after the pre-employment medical exam. Results The results indicate the construction and content validity of the Brazilian Portuguese version for use with a working population and its internal consistency. Conclusion This study resulted in the translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the Hearing Protection Assessment Questionnaire (HPA), in order to be used to assess the use of individual hearing protection in the occupational field, called Hearing Protection Assessment Questionnaire (HPA).

Estimation of all-cause noise exposure for U.S. adults from national survey data.

Millions of adults are at risk of hearing loss resulting from exposure to occupational and recreational noises. Data from the combined National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012 and 2015-2016 datasets were used to establish the prevalence of occupational and recreational noise exposures through self-report questions. For recreational noise exposures, NHANES asked about the use of firearms, including the use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) while shooting, and off-work exposures to very loud noise. For work exposures, NHANES asked about exposures to loud and very loud noise. For four of these five questions, graded responses on a 5- or 7-point scale were available. Receiver-operating-characteristic analyses were used to optimize the criterion response for identification of hearing loss for each question with graded responses using the unweighted data. Correlations among the graded responses supported reduction to two measures: (1) rounds fired combined with use of HPDs while shooting and (2) work exposure to loud and very loud noise combined. Logistic-regression analyses of various measures of pure-tone hearing loss were performed to examine the effects of recreational and occupational noise exposures on hearing loss. The odds of hearing loss were significantly greater for those who reported recreational and combined noise exposures.

Assessment of Workers' Occupational Exposure to Noise and Hearing Loss in One of the Cement Factories

Background: Noise is one of these factors and it is considered as a concern through the world. The purpose of this study is to provide information about the rate of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among workers in one of the cement.
 Methods: 283 workers were randomly selected from different production units in a cement factory. Equivalent Sound Level (Leq) was measured by using a Casella CEL-320 ‎ dosimeter and Sound Pressure Level (SPL) was measured by using a TES-1358 sound level meter (SLM) (sn: 090717269), with high accuracy. Audiometric tests were conducted by using an AVA C88 audiometer. Collected data were analyzed by using SPSS.16 software and statistical tests.
 Results: The mean Hearing threshold limit (HTLs) ‎ at frequencies (3 and 4 KHZ) in the study group is significantly higher than the control group (P <0.001). There was a significant difference between the mean HTLs in the left and right ear at all frequencies, except for the frequency of 500 HZ. At higher frequencies (3-8 KHZ), the difference between the mean HTLs ‎ in both ears is more evident and it has significantly increased, compared to lower frequencies (0.5-2 KHZ).
 Conclusion: Long-term occupational exposure to noise has the potential to cause hearing loss in cement factory workers. Therefore, it is necessary to perform effective measures, such as utilizing technical and engineering techniques and procurement and effective use of hearing protection devices in order to prevent the prevalence of hearing loss in units with high exposure risks.

A Tester to Evaluate the Correct Placement of Earplugs.

The use of hearing protection devices is one possible way of reducing the negative impact of noise on hearing. However, it is important to keep in mind that only properly used hearing protection devices provide adequate hearing protection. The aim of this article is to describe a newly developed tester to verify the correct placement of earplugs in the ear canal. This tester was developed using easily accessible and low-cost components. It implements the real-ear attenuation at threshold (REAT) method by which the sound attenuation of hearing protection devices is determined. The headphones with a greater low-frequency attenuation value were selected for use in the tester. The results of the sound attenuation measurement performed with the use of the tester did not differ by more than 5 dB compared to the measurements performed with the use of the Norsonic NOR838 system dedicated to this purpose. The developed tester is considered to be a device that will obtain reliable sound attenuation values. Thus, it can also be used as a device with which the correct placement of earplugs in the ear canal can be assessed.

Motivational Interviewing to Encourage Agricultural Producers' Use of Hearing Protection Devices: A Mixed-Method Feasibility Study.

Workers in production agriculture are frequently exposed to high noise levels and face unique barriers to implementing hearing protection, leading to occupational hearing loss. Motivational interviewing is a promising approach to assist workers in preserving their hearing. This pilot study used a mixed-method approach to evaluate the feasibility of an innovative motivational interviewing intervention for agricultural producers from February to May 2021. Qualitative data included coaches' and participants' comments and were coded using a structural coding approach. Quantitative data included Likert-type-style responses given by participants in a post-intervention survey. Data types were then integrated. Sixteen participants were recruited during the 4-month pilot. Participants' satisfaction scores averaged above six on a 7-point scale for all satisfaction questions. Implementation factors included the intervention's flexibility, services provided by the coaches beyond motivational interviewing, and difficulties with recruitment. This motivational interviewing intervention was highly acceptable to participants, but factors affecting implementation may challenge scalability.