title: Simplified risk assessment of noise induced hearing loss by means of 2 spreadsheet models.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study has been to test 2 spreadsheet models to compare the observed with the expected hearing loss for a Norwegian reference population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence rates of the Norwegian and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) definitions of hearing outcomes were calculated in terms of sex and age, 20-64 years old, for a screened (with no occupational noise exposure) (N = 18 858) and unscreened (N = 38 333) Norwegian reference population from the Nord-Trøndelag Hearing Loss Study (NTHLS). Based on the prevalence rates, 2 different spreadsheet models were constructed in order to compare the prevalence rates of various groups of workers with the expected rates. The spreadsheets were then tested on 10 different occupational groups with varying degrees of hearing loss as compared to a reference population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hearing of office workers, train drivers, conductors and teachers differed little from the screened reference values based on the Norwegian and the NIOSH criterion. The construction workers, miners, farmers and military had an impaired hearing and railway maintenance workers and bus drivers had a mildly impaired hearing. The spreadsheet models give a valid assessment of the hearing loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of spreadsheet models to compare hearing in occupational groups with that of a reference population is a simple and quick method. The results are in line with comparable hearing thresholds, and allow for significance testing. The method is believed to be useful for occupational health services in the assessment of risk of noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) and the preventive potential in groups of noise-exposed workers. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2016;29(6):991-999.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway (Department of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology). arve.lie@stami.no.
authors.forename: Arve
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lie
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. bo.engdahl@fhi.no.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Engdahl
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. Kristian.Tambs@fhi.no.
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tambs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009314:National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S.; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009664:Norway; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: method; noise induced hearing loss; occupational health services; reference data ISO; risk assessment; spread sheet