NOISE EXPOSURE AND HEARING LOSS

Course overview

NOISE AND HEARING LOSS HAVE BEEN CONCERNS SINCE THE DAYS OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, AS NOISE CAUSES A VARIETY OF AUDITORY AND NON-AUDITORY HEALTH PROBLEMS. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION HAS REPORTED HEARING LOSS AS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DISABILITY GLOBALLY, OF WHICH NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS (NIHL) IS ONE OF THE MOST PREVENTABLE. UNFORTUNATELY, AWARENESS OF NOISE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON HUMAN HEALTH IS NOT WIDESPREAD AMONG MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. WHILE PREVENTION IS CRITICAL, THE TREATMENT OF NIHL PRIMARILY REVOLVES AROUND HEARING AMPLIFICATION. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE PREVALENCE, ETIOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT OF NIHL AND HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM COLLABORATION AMONG EMPLOYERS, REGULATORY AGENCIES, AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF NIHL.