Dangerous Decibels Program in Elementary and Middle School Students: Effectiveness After a 6-Month Follow-Up.

Purpose: The purpose of this article was to assess the effectiveness of the Dangerous Decibels (DD) program in students in the short- and medium-term follow-ups (up to 6 months), including an online game.

Method: A randomized trial was conducted between two interventions (DD and placebo). The research included 58 participants who were divided into two groups: the study group (SG) and the control group.

Noise Exposure, Headsets, and Auditory and Nonauditory Symptoms in Call Center Operators.

Purpose: This study evaluates the exposure of call center operators (CCOs) to occupational noise, its association with auditory and nonauditory symptoms, and the feasibility of monaural and binaural headsets.

Method: We measured the noise exposure sound pressure levels (SPLs) with the microphone-in-real-ear technique and administered a questionnaire on auditory/nonauditory symptoms and headset preference.

Results: We assessed 79 CCOs with normal hearing.

Systematic Review of Interventions to Prevent Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss - A Follow-up.

Purpose: To conduct a systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions to prevent occupational hearing loss, following up on the findings of the most recent version of Cochrane systematic review on the same topic.

Research Strategy: Searches were carried out in PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases.

Selection Criteria: The following interventions were considered: engineering/administrative controls; hearing protection devices (HPD); and audiological monitoring.

Hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension: analysis of the baseline data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

Objectives: To investigate the association among hypertension, tinnitus, and sensorineural hearing loss and evaluate the influence of other covariates on this association.

Methods: Baseline data (2008-2010) from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) were analyzed. Altogether, 900 participants were evaluated.

Evaluation of Noise Reduction Interventions in a School.

Introduction: Noise in the school environment has been a major concern in many countries around the world. Students need a favorable signal-to-noise ratio in the classroom to ensure adequate speech intelligibility, which is directly dependent on the acoustics of the classroom and favorable noise levels in these environments.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of physical, organizational, and educational interventions to achieve noise reduction in a school.

Longitudinal evaluation of a hearing protector fit training program.

Objective: The present study evaluates a training program for fitting different hearing protection devices (HPDs) based on personal attenuation rating (PAR) before, immediately after, and six months after training.

Methods: A total of 67 workers from a public university in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, were invited to participate in the measurement of PARs for foam and silicone protectors through the 3M™ E-A-Rfit Validation System. Two evaluations were performed for each protector at each sampling date: one after reading printed material (the package instructions) and another after being trained by an audiologist.

Earmuff efficacy in the workplace using F-MIRE - a case report.

Purpose: To determine the field efficacy of an earmuff used by the employees of a private company.

Methods: Measurements were performed using a double-channel noise dosimeter. Noise levels collected in one-third-octave bands were corrected with the frequency response for diffuse sound field and attenuation was compared with values provided by the manufacturer of the hearing protection device (HPD).