Hearing Protection in the 21st Century: They're Not Your Father's Earplugs Anymore

ABSTRACT

Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common occupational illnesses among American workers. This is particularly tragic because this type of hearing loss can be prevented. When engineering or administrative controls have not eliminated a given hearing hazard, wearing hearing protectors remains the best way to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. Over the past several decades, technology has greatly improved hearing protector capabilities. Nevertheless, many workers fail to wear hearing protectors because they do not know when and how they should be worn. Applying health communication theory to develop hearing protection training can substantially improve attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors associated with hearing protector use. This article discusses how to identify barriers to hearing protector use, as well as how to promote self-efficacy as a means for improving hearing protector effectiveness.

KEYWORDS

Hearing protector - hearing conservation - hearing loss

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