title: Trends in worker hearing loss by industry sector, 1981-2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence and prevalence of hearing loss for noise-exposed U.S. workers by industry sector and 5-year time period, covering 30 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Audiograms for 1.8 million workers from 1981-2010 were examined. Incidence and prevalence were estimated by industry sector and time period. The adjusted risk of incident hearing loss within each time period and industry sector as compared with a reference time period was also estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The adjusted risk for incident hearing loss decreased over time when all industry sectors were combined. However, the risk remained high for workers in Healthcare and Social Assistance, and the prevalence was consistently high for Mining and Construction workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While progress has been made in reducing the risk of incident hearing loss within most industry sectors, additional efforts are needed within Mining, Construction and Healthcare and Social Assistance.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Masterson
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Deddens
authors.forename: Christa L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Themann
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertke
authors.forename: Geoffrey M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Calvert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D060389:Construction Industry / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D019981:Health Care Sector / Q000639:trends; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007221:Industry / Q000639:trends*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining / Q000639:trends; D009623:Noise, Occupational; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012947:Social Work / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: hazardous noise; incidence; material hearing impairment; noise-induced hearing loss; occupational hearing loss; prevalence; surveillance; trends