title: Hearing loss and hearing handicap in users of recreational firearms.
abstract: This investigation sought to establish the prevalence of hearing loss and hearing handicap in a population of 232 recreational firearm users. Hearing handicap was calculated based on four methods using pure-tone threshold data from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, and American Speech-Language and Hearing Association in addition to the self-report Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults-Screener (HHIA-S). Subjects (45 female and 187 male) ranging in age from 13 to 77 years (mean = 40 years, SD = 15.1) completed a short questionnaire regarding demographics and shooting practices followed by pure-tone air audiometry at Occupational Safety and Health Administration test frequencies of 500 to 6000 Hz. A total of 177 who exhibited varying degrees of hearing loss also received a face-to-face administration of the HHIA-S. Audiometric and HHIA-S results revealed that both high-frequency hearing loss and hearing handicap varied significantly as functions of age and occupation. Significant gender effects were observed audiometrically but not as a function of hearing handicap. HHIA-S scores varied significantly as a function of high-frequency (1000-4000 Hz) hearing loss. Correlation coefficients between the four different pure-tone methods of calculating hearing handicap and the self-reported HHIA-S were highest for pure-tone methods that do not employ 500 Hz in the calculation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Disorders, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant 48859, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pankiw
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004430:Ear Protective Devices; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires