Hearing protection study revisited
A 1992-96 study which found that an educational outreach programme increased hearing protection use among youths working on farms is set to be revisited by researchers.
Principal investigator Barbara Marlenga will revisit the youths who undertook the programme and see whether the use of hearing equipment has continued into later life, RxPG News has reported.
According to the researcher, some ten million people in the US have some form of hearing loss as a result of exposure to loud noises and 30 million people are at risk of developing such conditions.
In the original study, half of the participants were given ear muffs and ear plugs and were reminded about using hearing protection while in school, the news provider said.
After the experiment, the half of the 689 students involved which had received the reminders more regularly used hearing protection than those who did not.
In the follow-up tests, hearing levels will be examined and participants' exposure to noise at home and work will be assessed, RxPG News revealed.
The noise control exemption for pubs, clubs and music venues has been removed from employment law, meaning staff in such establishments must now be protected from exposure to loud noises.
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