title: Hearing loss and use of hearing protection among career firefighters in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and characteristics of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and the use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) among career firefighters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Web-based survey and a standard audiometric test were performed with 425 firefighters from three states in the United States.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 40% showed hearing loss in the noise-sensitive frequencies (4 and 6 kHz). The left ear showed significantly poorer hearing than the right ear. Firefighters having longer years of work in fire services demonstrated significantly worse hearing. Reported use of HPDs was 34% of the time that was needed. Firefighters who used HPDs less were significantly more likely to have hearing loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated a considerable NIHL problem and low use of HPDs in firefighters. More comprehensive hearing conservation programs should be implemented to reduce NIHL for firefighters.
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing Graduate Program, School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. oisaeng.hong@nursing.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: OiSaeng
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Dal Lae
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Samo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004430:Ear Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D061388:Firefighters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology