TY - JOUR
T1 - A history of occupational noise exposure is associated with steep-slope audiograms and poorer self-reported hearing-aid outcomes
AU - Houmøller, Sabina Storbjerg
AU - Tsai, Li-Tang
AU - Wolff, Anne
AU - Kaithali Narayanan, Sreeram
AU - Hougaard, Dan Dupont
AU - Gaihede, Michael
AU - Hammershøi, Dorte
AU - Neher, Tobias
AU - Godballe, Christian
AU - Schmidt, Jesper Hvass
PY - 2023/11/1
Y1 - 2023/11/1
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of previous occupational noise exposure in older adults with hearing loss on (1) audiometric configuration and acoustic reflex (AR) thresholds and (2) self-reported hearing abilities and hearing aid (HA) effectiveness.DESIGN: A prospective observational study.STUDY SAMPLE: The study included 1176 adults (≥60 years) with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Pure-tone audiometry, AR thresholds, and responses to the abbreviated version of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ12) and the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) questionnaire were obtained, along with information about previous occupational noise exposure.RESULTS: Greater occupational noise exposure was associated with a higher prevalence of steeply sloping audiograms in men and women and a 0.32 (95% CI: -0.57; -0.06) scale points lower mean SSQ12 total score among noise-exposed men. AR thresholds did not show a significant relation to noise-exposure status, but hearing thresholds at a given frequency were related to elevated AR thresholds at the same frequency.CONCLUSIONS: A noise exposure history is linked to steeper audiograms in older adults with hearing loss as well as to poorer self-reported hearing abilities in noise-exposed men. More attention to older adults with previous noise exposure is warranted in hearing rehabilitation.
AB - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of previous occupational noise exposure in older adults with hearing loss on (1) audiometric configuration and acoustic reflex (AR) thresholds and (2) self-reported hearing abilities and hearing aid (HA) effectiveness.DESIGN: A prospective observational study.STUDY SAMPLE: The study included 1176 adults (≥60 years) with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Pure-tone audiometry, AR thresholds, and responses to the abbreviated version of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ12) and the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) questionnaire were obtained, along with information about previous occupational noise exposure.RESULTS: Greater occupational noise exposure was associated with a higher prevalence of steeply sloping audiograms in men and women and a 0.32 (95% CI: -0.57; -0.06) scale points lower mean SSQ12 total score among noise-exposed men. AR thresholds did not show a significant relation to noise-exposure status, but hearing thresholds at a given frequency were related to elevated AR thresholds at the same frequency.CONCLUSIONS: A noise exposure history is linked to steeper audiograms in older adults with hearing loss as well as to poorer self-reported hearing abilities in noise-exposed men. More attention to older adults with previous noise exposure is warranted in hearing rehabilitation.
KW - Occupational noise exposure
KW - acoustic reflex threshold
KW - age-related hearing loss
KW - audiograms
KW - hearing-aid outcome
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85175708219&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/14992027.2023.2272558
DO - 10.1080/14992027.2023.2272558
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 37909290
SN - 1499-2027
JO - International Journal of Audiology
JF - International Journal of Audiology
ER -