title: Prevalence of Hazardous Occupational Noise Exposure, Hearing Loss, and Hearing Protection Usage Among a Representative Sample of Working Canadians.
abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hearing loss (HL), self-reported occupational noise exposure, and hearing protection usage among Canadians.
  
  
  
  In-person household interviews were conducted with 3666 participants, aged 16 to 79 years (1811 males) with 94% completing audiometry and distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) evaluations. Occupational noise exposure was defined as hazardous when communicating with coworkers at an arm's length distance required speaking in a raised voice.
  
  
  
  An estimated 42% of respondents reported hazardous occupational noise exposure; 10 years or more was associated with HL regardless of age, sex or education. Absent DPOAEs, tinnitus, and the Wilson audiometric notch were significantly more prevalent in hazardous workplace noise-exposed workers than in nonexposed. When mandatory, 80% reported wearing hearing protection.
  
  
  
  These findings are consistent with other industrialized countries, underscoring the need for ongoing awareness of noise-induced occupational HL.
authors.affiliation: Health Effects and Assessment Division, Health Canada (Drs Feder, Michaud, McNamee), Audiology & Speech-language Pathology Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario (Dr Fitzpatrick), Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Population & Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia (Dr Davies), and École d'orthophonie et d'audiologie, Université de Montréal, Faculté de médecine, Montréal, Québec, Canada (Dr Leroux).
authors.forename: Katya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Feder
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Michaud
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McNamee
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leroux
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry; D002170:Canada; D004430:Ear Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D013997:Time Factors; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult