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Hearing impairment and tinnitus among older construction workers employed at DOE facilities

Journal Article · · American Journal of Industrial Medicine
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23406· OSTI ID:1976264
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [5];  [6]
  1. Energy Employees Department CPWR–The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, MD (United States); OSTI
  2. Duke University, Durham, NC (United States). Medical Center
  3. Energy Employees Department CPWR–The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, MD (United States)
  4. University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD (United States). School of Medicine
  5. Zenith American Solutions, Seattle, WA (United States)
  6. Government Services Department Zenith American Solutions Seattle Washington USA
+ Show Author Affiliations

Few studies have defined the risk of hearing impairment and tinnitus after retirement. This report measures hearing impairment and tinnitus prevalence among older construction trades workers. The study cohort included 21,340 participants in a national medical screening program. Audiometric hearing impairment was classified according to the Global Burden of Disease Study. Tinnitus was determined by self-report. An internal subcohort of nonconstruction trades workers served as a reference group. Stratified analyses and multivariate analyses were used to measure the prevalence of hearing impairment and tinnitus by age, sex, and job category. Prevalence of any hearing impairment was 55.2% (males, 57.7%; females, 26.8%) and increased rapidly with age. Construction trades workers were 40% more likely to have hearing impairment than the reference group. The overall prevalence of tinnitus was 46.52% and followed patterns similar to hearing impairment. Workers with hearing impairment were more likely to also have tinnitus, but tinnitus was frequently reported in the absence of measured hearing impairment. Hearing impairment and tinnitus prevalence were much higher in this study than in previous research. A significant reason for the difference is that BTMed follows participants after they have retired. To draw conclusions about the risk for work-related chronic diseases and disorders it is important to monitor workers through their lifetimes. Also, tinnitus by itself should be given greater significance. We report the findings reinforce the need to promote noise reduction and hearing conservation in construction.

Research Organization:
Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), Silver Spring, MD (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
FC01-06EH06004
OSTI ID:
1976264
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1875987
Journal Information:
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Journal Name: American Journal of Industrial Medicine Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 65; ISSN 0271-3586
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Figures / Tables (4)

Table 1(p. 18)table Table 1
Table 2(p. 19)table Table 2
Table 3(p. 19)table Table 3
Table 4(p. 20)table Table 4

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Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
BTMed
DOE
audiometry
construction trades
hearing impairment
surveillance
tinnitus