title: An epidemiological perspective of the causes of hearing loss among industrial workers.
abstract: An etiologic paradigm of hearing loss for industrial workers is introduced as having two major components, one being occupational and the other extra-occupational. The extra-occupational factors include age, noise exposure outside the work place, trauma, ear disease and ototoxic drugs. The work-related factors include occupational noise, whole body vibration, work-related diseases and toxic exposures. Within this framework, a review of the epidemiology of hearing loss examines the possible relationships between hearing loss and these factors.
authors.affiliation: Département de santé communautaire de Lanaudière, Joliette, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Phaneuf
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hétu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors