Interventions to Prevent Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Tikka, C., Verbeek, J. H., et al. (2017).
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 7, CD006396.
This systematic review investigates the effects of nonpharmacological interventions (e.g., personal hearing protection devices, engineering solutions) on decreasing occupational noise exposure and resulting hearing loss in adults who are exposed noise levels of more than 80 dB(A) for a significant part of their workday. This article updates a previous publication by Verbeek, et al. (2012); see the full citation in the Notes on This Article section.
Cochrane Collaboration; Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment as part of the KIS Programme (The Netherlands); Stichting Arbouw (The Netherlands)
This article is an update of the following systematic review:<ul> <li>Verbeek, J. H., Katemanm, E., Morata, T. C., Dreschler, W. A., & Mischke C. (2012). Interventions to Prevent Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.<em> Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews</em>, <em>10</em>, CD006396.</li></ul>
Through October 2016
Randomised controlled trials; cluster-randomised trials; controlled before-after studies; interrupted time-series
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Median personal noise exposure dose in underground coal mining was reduced by 27.7 percentage points (i.e., 4.5 dB(A) decrease in noise level) immediately after the implementation of stricter legislation. "The intervention was associated with a favourable but statistically non-significant downward trend in time of the noise dose of -2.1 percentage points per year" (Very Low-Quality Evidence; p. 2).
<p>"In general hearing protection devices reduced noise exposure on average by about 20 dB(A)" (Low-Quality Evidence; p. 2). "With instructions for insertion, the attenuation of noise by earplugs was 8.59 dB better ... compared to no instruction" (Moderate-Quality Evidence; p. 2). </p><p>Insufficient data are available regarding the effect of different hearing protection devices on temporary threshold shifts after short-term follow-up. No difference was found in hearing loss between muffs and earplugs at long-term follow-up from noise exposure above 89 dB(A) (Very Low-Quality Evidence; p. 2). </p><p>"Wearing hearing protection more often resulted in less hearing loss at very long-term follow-up" (Very Low-Quality Evidence; p. 2).</p>
"On-site training sessions did not have an effect on personal noise-exposure levels compared to information only ... after four months’ follow-up.... [P]ersonal noise exposure information had no effect on noise levels compared to no such information" (Low-Quality Evidence; p. 2).
