Background: Hearing loss has been associated with increased mortality, and there is evidence that regular use of hearing aids reduces the mortality risk. However, these associations have not been sufficiently studied in worker populations at high risk for noise-induced hearing loss.
Methods: Medical examination data for 19,379 workers employed in US Department of Energy (DOE) facilities were used. Speech-frequency pure-tone average hearing loss and hearing aid use were ascertained. Mortality status through 2021 was obtained from the National Death Index. Cox regression examined the association between hearing loss and mortality and the impact of hearing aid use.
Results: Eight thousand eighty-one workers (41.3%) had speech-frequency hearing loss and 2228 (15.3%) of these workers reported use of hearing aids. A total of 5398 deaths occurred over a median follow-up of 11.1 years. Hearing loss was an independent risk factor for higher mortality with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.10 (95% CI = 1.03-1.17). The HR increased with hearing loss severity but the relationship was non-linear. Hearing aid users were at 30% reduced risk of mortality compared to those not using hearing aids (HR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.63-0.77).
Conclusions: Results are consistent with research linking hearing loss with increased mortality and the preventive impact of hearing aid use. These findings should inform workers' compensation programs in favor of: (1) better coverage of hearing loss for noise-exposed workers, and (2) inclusion of hearing aids in medical benefits. Reduction in noise exposures is a priority and workers with hearing loss should be encouraged to use hearing aids.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23693 | DOI Listing |
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
December 2024
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Objective: This study aimed to attenuate cochlear inflammation following noise-induced hearing loss by targeting IL-1. We evaluated the effectiveness of IL-1 inhibition through auditory and histological assessments in an animal model.
Study Design: Experimental animal study.
Biomed Pharmacother
December 2024
Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea; School of Life Sciences, BK21 plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:
mPTP is a multi-protein complex that opens in mitochondria during cell death. Cisplatin-induced hearing loss is also known to be caused by mPTP opening. Thus, our study evaluated the protective effect of a novel mPTP inhibitor named DBP-iPT against cisplatin-induced hearing loss.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFQ J Exp Psychol (Hove)
December 2024
Toronto Metropolitan University, Department of Psychology.
Even with the use of hearing aids (HAs), speech in noise perception remains challenging for older adults, impacting communication and quality of life outcomes. The association between music perception and speech-in-noise (SIN) outcomes is of interest, as there is evidence that professionally trained musicians are adept listeners in noisy environments. Thus, this study explored the association between music processing, cognitive factors, and the outcome variable of SIN perception, in older adults with hearing loss.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDent Traumatol
December 2024
Clinical Research Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Background/aim: Traumatic Dental Injuries (TDIs) are an emerging public health problem and a realm of research for oral health enthusiasts. Certain populations can be more vulnerable to injuries such as those with a sensory deficit. Nevertheless, literature is scarce, especially for those with hearing impairment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnn Otol Rhinol Laryngol
February 2025
Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Objectives: We aimed to estimate the global prevalence of hearing loss among adults and to explore its associated factors.
Methods: Our systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement (PRISMA). We retrieved corresponding documents published up to Sep 24, 2021 in PubMed and Web of Science.
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