Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in School-Age Children: What Do We Know?

Mary Jo Cooley Hidecker

doi:10.1055/s-2007-1021769

Seminars in Hearing, Table of Contents

Semin Hear 2008; 29(1): 019-028
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1021769

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in School-Age Children: What Do We Know?

Mary Jo Cooley Hidecker¹

¹Adjunct Assistant Professor, Communicative Sciences & Disorders, Postdoctoral Fellow, Epidemiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

Abstract

ABSTRACT

An increasing number of children are exposed to louder sounds at younger ages, which may increase their risk for developing earlier and more severe noise-induced hearing losses. Factors that may be mediators or confounders of this noise exposure-hearing loss relationship include noise intensity and type, noise exposure incidences and duration, and individual susceptibility. The status of descriptive epidemiology in this area and the public health effects of noise-induced hearing loss are summarized. Results are analyzed using Hill's epidemiologic causal criteria. Longitudinal epidemiologic research is needed that will measure children's sound exposures and hearing outcomes within the same study to determine the extent of the problem and to improve understanding of possible causal pathways. In addition, hearing conservation programs need to be implemented more widely, and the programs' outcomes in increasing both knowledge and preventive behaviors need to be demonstrated in diverse locations. Some public policy health issues concerning prevention of noise-induced hearing loss in children are discussed.

KEYWORDS

Noise-induced hearing loss - children - epidemiology - hearing conservation

Full Text

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Mary Jo Cooley HideckerPh.D.

Department of Epidemiology, Michigan State University

B601 West Fee Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824

Email: hidecke1@msu.edu