Occupational hearing loss

Hearing loss is a significant and unfortunately common occupational malady. Over the past several decades both the Occupational Safety and Health Admi nistration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and He alth (NIOSH) have initiated efforts to better understand and to limit the o ccurrence of occupational hearing loss, particularly as it relates to exces sive noise exposure. This paper briefly addresses the pathophysiology of no ise-induced hearing loss and then describes the occupational and non-occupa tional factors which influence a worker's risk of hearing loss. The primary foci of this discussion are the clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and manage ment of occupational hearing loss. Issues of prevention, OSHA-mandated hear ing conservation efforts and compensation are reviewed. Am. J. Ind. Med. 37 :112-120, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.