title: Changes in the hearing status and noise injury prevention practices of Australian farmers from 1994 to 2008.
abstract: This study compares the hearing status and behaviors of Australian farmers from 1994-2001 with those from 2002-2008. Over this period the authors found (1) there was a 12.5% overall improvement in the proportion of farmers with normal hearing in left ears, with the likelihood of a screening participant having normal hearing improving by almost 9% each year; (2) significant improvements in the mean hearing threshold of both ears from 1 to 6 kHz; (3) significantly higher mean hearing thresholds for 35- to 44-year-old farmers exposed to firearms, chainsaws, workshop tools, heavy machinery, and tractors with cabins compared to nonexposed groups; (4) nonuse of hearing protection devices by young farmers (15 to 24 years old), was associated with hearing loss for those using uncabined tractors. Despite a reduction in noise injury, further adoption of noise reduction strategies for specific agricultural work practices is required.
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Moree, New South Wales, Australia. julie.depczynski@sydney.edu.au
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Depczynski
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Challinor
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fragar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001299:Audiometry; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004430:Ear Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult