To effectively implement an occupational hearing conservation program, employers must know the amount of attenuation (noise reduction) provided by the hearing protective devices used by their employees. Currently standardized test methods, performed under laboratory conditions, cannot be easily implemented in industrial settings, and previously proposed field methods have depended upon the use of special headphones which are not typically available in the workplace. These problems have led many occupational hearing conservationists to use standard audiometric headphones to evaluate the attenuation provided to employees using insert-type hearing-protective devices. There has, however, been little research into the validity of using standard audiometric headphones to determine attenuation values. The purpose of this study was to describe a procedure for determining the attenuation of insert-type hearing-protective devices using standard audiometric earphones, typical industrial audiometric equipment, and other easily obtainable materials.

The need for hearing protection in industry has evolved from the growing awareness of the detrimental effects of noise on hearing and recent legislation enacted to protect the hearing of noise-exposed employees through the use of hearing conservation programs. In lieu of expensive or impractical engineering and administrative controls, personal hearing protection devices (HPDs) are considered to be the most practical and effective means of protecting employees from the damaging effects of noise in industry today.

M.Cur. / We are living in a century of industialization, with noise as the more general of the polutents. Because Eskom workers are subjected to this risk factor, it was decided to institute and implement a hearing conservation programme. Literature concerning noise and hearing conservation was researched with the view to suggestions as a basis for a successful hearing conservation programme. A programme was compiled and included in research of the relevance concerning the knowledge and attitude towards the active use of hearing protection. For the purpose of this research a true experimental design, with a pre-test and post test in the form of a standardised questionnaire, wa~ used. The hearing conservation programme was implemented and controlled by an occupational health nurse in conjunction with other competents on the subject. On completion of the presentation and analysis of the questionnaires, certain findings were noted and used as guidelines to specific recommendations.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T18:12:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria Cecilia Castello Silva Pereira.pdf: 1279959 bytes, checksum: a564e8fdd94e7d865a3f94b246d6aff0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-10-09 / Introduction: The Newborn Hearing Screening Program have been responsible for anticipating the sensorineural and conductive hearing loss diagnoses for the last few years. This study refers to the experience of a hearing screening starting before the hospital discharge in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and also to the orientation to the Well-baby Nursery screening after the discharge. Aims: Describe a Newborn Hearing Screening Program in a maternity hospital of the privative network in Salvador, from 2000 to 2006, considering the historical context, the process of implementation, the changes through the years, as well as the hearing findings and the relation with the quality criteria proposed by the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing 2000.Method and Material: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study. 4997 newborns and infants were screened through the use of Echocheck, the otoacoustic emissions equipment and through the observation of the cochlear-palpebral reflex. The results were divided in four groups: AI = NICU and screening in the pre-discharge; AII = NICU and screening in the post-discharge; BI = Well-baby Nursery and screening in the pre-discharge; BII = Well-baby Nursery and screening in the post-discharge. Results: A description of the evolution and implementation process of the hearing screening from 2000 to 2006 was done; in relation to the audiological findings, the hearing screening results described were the ones from 2001 to 2006. There was an assessment of 38,9% of the newborns and infants in 2001, and 79,5% in 2006. According to the pre-discharge service analyses, the group AI/BI had from 8,1% to 11,2% of fails; in the post-discharge service analyses, the group AII/BII maintained the fail index in 2,6%. As final results of the AI/BI group, from the total of 1739 screenings, there were 21 confirmed cases of hearing alterations, being 20 conductive(6,1:1000) and 4 sensorineural (1,2:1000). Conclusion: The data indicates that the service before the discharge to the NICU and a gradual extension to the Well-baby Nursery is workable, ever since the protocol is continuously adjustable. Although the AI/BI group was the third part of the sample it represented a higher prevalence of hearing alterations. These show the importance of the hearing screening before the hospital discharge, so a higher number of congenital hearing problems can be assessed / Introdução: Nos últimos anos, os programas de Triagem Auditiva Neonatal (TAN) têm sido responsáveis por antecipar o diagnóstico das deficiências auditivas sensorioneurais e condutivas, quando ambas estão presentes ao nascimento. O presente estudo relata uma experiência de triagem auditiva iniciada antes da alta hospitalar na UTI Neonatal e de orientação para triagem no Berçário Comum após a alta. Com o passar dos anos, o programa estendeu-se para atendimento também no Berçário Comum. Objetivos: Descrever um programa de Triagem Auditiva Neonatal em uma maternidade da rede privada de Salvador, no período de 2000 a 2006, no que se refere ao seu contexto histórico, ao processo de implantação e às modificações ocorridas ao longo dos anos; também são discutidos os achados audiológicos e a relação com os critérios de qualidade propostos pelo Joint Committee on Infant Hearing, de 2000. Material e método: trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo, de caráter transversal. Foram triados 4997 neonatos e lactentes com emissões otoacústicas, equipamento Echocheck, e observação do reflexo cócleo-palpebral. Os sujeitos foram divididos em quatro grupos: AI= UTI Neonatal e triagem na pré-alta; AII= UTI Neonatal e triagem na pós-alta; BI= Berçário Comum e triagem na pré-alta; BII= Berçário Comum e triagem na pós-alta. Resultados: Foi descrito o processo de evolução e implantação da triagem auditiva no período de 2000 a 2006. Quanto aos achados audiológicos, foram descritos os resultados da triagem auditiva de 2001 a 2006. Houve cobertura em 38,9% dos neonatos e lactentes em 2001, chegando a 79,5% em 2006. Na análise dos atendimentos na pré-alta, o grupo AI/BI apresentou índices de falha de 8,1% a 11,2%; na análise de atendimentos na pós-alta, no grupo AII/BII, os índices de falha mantiveram-se em 2,6%. Como resultados finais, no grupo AI/BI, do total de 1739 triagens, houve 21 casos confirmados de alterações auditivas, sendo 17 condutivas (9,8:1.000) e quatro sensorioneurais (2,3 :1000). No grupo AII/BII, do total de 3256 triagens, houve 24 casos confirmados de alterações auditivas, sendo 20 condutivas (6,1:1000) e quatro sensorioneurais (1,2 :1000). Conclusão: os dados indicaram que o atendimento antes da alta para UTI Neonatal e sua extensão gradual para o Berçário Comum são viáveis, desde que o protocolo seja continuamente ajustado. Embora representasse a terça parte da amostra, o grupo AI/BI apresentou uma prevalência maior de alterações auditivas, evidenciando a importância da TAN antes da alta hospitalar para o diagnóstico precoce de alterações auditivas congênitas

MPH / Department of Public Health / Hearing Conservation Programme (HCP) has been reported to be effective in protecting the hearing of South African workers who are exposed to occupational noise. In order to reduce Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) among these workers, a team work that includes an Occupational Audiologist in the proper implementation of hearing conservation programme is needed. The aim of this study was to assess the implementation of hearing conservation programme amongst farm workers in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province in South Africa.A quantitative research approach using cross sectional survey design was used to assess the implementation of the programme among farm workers in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province in South Africa. A self administered questionnaire with both open and closed ended questions was administered to both males and female respondents aged between 19 and 50 years. A total population of 260 farm workers were systematically selected and a sample size of 76 respondents were randomly selected and participated in the study. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the University of Venda and the office in charge of royal macadamia. The data collected was analyzed using the Statistical package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23,0 software. A test-retest method was used to ensure reliability and findings of the study and formed the basis of recommendations. The results of the study indicate that 82,9% of the workers who were exposed to noise for more than 14hours were not using hearing protection devices even though they were supplied. The training on the effects of noise on hearing was received by a quarter (25%) of the farm workers leaving out a large portion of 75% of workers not knowledgeable about the hearing conservation programme. A very small percentage of 3,9% indicated that they had a documented hearing loss against a large number of 96,1%. The findings show that only engineering noise controls are available and there were no provision of noise maps as part of monitoring hearing conservation programme.The farm workers need to be motivated to wear hearing protection devices in order to conserve their hearing. The management of the farm may organize an in-service training regarding the proper implementation of hearing conservation programme.Dermacation of noise zones would remind workers to put on their ear protectors before entering the noise area as part of monitoring the hearing conservation programme.

The purpose of the study was to develop best practice guidelines to prevent permanent hearing loss associated with the management of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) through raised awareness and monitoring. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and MDR-TB are global public health problems requiring urgent scale-up of treatment services. Irreversible sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is one of the adverse drug reactions of the current World Health Organization (WHO) recommended MDR-TB chemotherapy fuelling another public health problem, that disabling hearing loss, which is the second highest contributor of Years Lived with Disability (YLD) according to the World Health Report (2003). Expansion of MDR-TB treatment threatens to increase incidence of SNHL unless there is urgent implementation of intervention towards preservation of hearing for patients on treatment. This empirical study determined and documented the incidence of SNHL in HIV positive and HIV negative patients on MDR-TB treatment, the risk factors for SNHL, from the time treatment initiation to SNHL. Based on the findings, developed and improved the understanding of best practice guidelines for monitoring and prevention of MDR-TB treatment-related SNHL. The empirical study recruited a cohort of 173 patients with normal hearing status, after diagnosis with MDR-TB and enrolled on MDR-TB therapy over thirteen month period. Patients in the cohort received monthly hearing sensitivity testing during the intensive MDR-TB therapy when injectable aminoglycoside antibiotics are part of the treatment regimen. The three study endpoints included completion of the eight-month intensive treatment phase without developing hearing loss, development incident hearing loss or loss to follow up. Data was analysed using STATA statistical software and summarised using frequencies, means, proportions, and rates. The study documented incidence of SNHL, time to hearing loss and risk factors for hearing loss. Recommendations to prevent and monitor hearing loss are made based on the the study findings. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)