The EU Physical Agents Directive on Noise, which will be implemented into UK law in February 2006, will reduce noise action levels drastically. Under the new regulations, many more industries, which have so far not been associated with high noise levels such as restaurants and call centres, will have to assess the noise levels in their businesses and monitor their employees’ hearing according to HSE guidelines. This practical guide gives occupational health nurses everything they need to know about setting up and managing hearing conservation programmes, as well as how to carry out the audiometric tests. The text fully covers the syllabus of BSA accredited courses for the certificate of competence in Industrial Audiometry and includes practical examples, case studies, sample audiograms and questionnaires for setting up case histories. As the BSA syllabus is based on the HSE’s guidelines, the book will be a useful training manual and up-to-date reference for Health and Safety professionals, Occupational Health professionals, and HSE inspectors. Dr Maryanne Maltby is an Audiological Scientist and Principal Lecturer on the Amplivox courses in Industrial Audiometry. She has previously taught Audiology and related subjects at Manchester University (Course Leader) and at Oxford Brookes University. She is a committee member of the Hearing Aid Council and a member of the British Society of Audiology. She also has wide consultancy experience in workplace training and advice on hearing conservation issues, fitting hearing protection, management of hearing and tinnitus problems at work.

Within the well-documented understanding of occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) being a complex occupational health condition requiring the adoption of the complex interventions approach to management, challenges confronting hearing conservation programmes (HCPs) within the African context need clear characterisation and insightful deliberation. Guided by the systems theory, to be realistic about the implementation, monitoring, as well as evaluation of outcomes of HCPs within the African mining context, this book is a call for a paradigm shift in the assessment and management of ONIHL and HCPs in African mines. This book, Occupational Noise Induced Hearing Loss: An African Perspective, equips researchers involved in the management of ONIHL and implementation of HCPs with evidence that allows for contextually relevant best practices in mine settings, particularly those located in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). This best practice is multidisciplinary in nature and engages all stakeholders in all relevant sectors, with the goal of adopting a preventive audiology approach to ONIHL rather than the compensation-oriented approach that is currently prevailing. This book is a research-driven contribution to the occupational health and safety (OHS) space, with ONIHL as a focus case study, and it provides contemporary, contextually relevant, and responsive evidence related to ONIHL and HCPs in LMICs with a very specific focus on the South African context. This book expansively addresses all aspects of ONIHL and HCPs in one volume, with careful considerations of complexities and challenges to HCPs implementation, applicable specifically to LMICs, although useful globally. The book offers potential solutions and recommendations for all challenges identified, having carefully and deliberately engaged with local evidence, local context, and local policies and regulations to ensure an Afrocentric contribution to the world of evidence.

Now in its fourth edition, Occupational Hearing Loss delivers a complete overview of the hazards of occupational noise exposure, causes of hearing loss, testing of hearing, criteria to distinguish occupational hearing loss, and more. The book emphasizes medical and societal factors in its coverage of topics such as audiometry and who should do it, evoked response testing, and conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, as well as mixed, central, and functional hearing loss. Brought together by experienced practitioners and written by experts with depth and experience in the field, this book is written clearly in language accessible to non-medical personnel. No other book available has the breadth, practical detail, or comprehensive scope. A unique compendium of information about specific problems of occupational hearing loss and hearing conservation, the book is both a balanced reference and an easy-to-use guide to protecting the hearing of industrial workers. This title is an ideal read for any student or professional occupational physician, audiologist, health and safety engineer, industrial hygienist, and otolaryngologist.

Written in clear and accessible language, Occupational Hearing Loss provides a comprehensive overview of the hazards of occupational noise exposure, causes of hearing loss, testing of hearing, criteria to distinguish occupational hearing loss, and more. This third edition features expanded discussion of topics such as autoimmune inner ear disease and diagnosing occupational hearing loss. It includes new chapters on auditory evoked potentials, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, malignancies of the ear, otologic complications of scuba diving, and hearing in dogs. This text also contains updated and revised material on auditory processing disorders, systemic causes of hearing loss, and more.

Principles of Occupational Health and Hygiene offers a comprehensive overview of occupational health risks and hazardous environments encountered in a range of industries and organisational settings. Leading industry professionals and educators explain how to identify key workplace hazards including chemical agents such as dusts, metals and gases; physical agents such as noise, radiation and extremes of heat and cold; and microbiological agents. They outline assessment procedures and processes for identifying exposure levels. They also explain how to evaluate risk and follow safety guidelines to control and manage these hazards effectively. Chapters are heavily illustrated with detailed case studies, diagrams, flowcharts and photos. Practical guidelines are provided for managing each hazard type. This third edition has been extensively revised and updated and reflects current research evidence and the Workplace Health and Safety legislation on workplace hazards. Principles of Occupational Health and Hygiene is an essential reference for Occupational Hygienists and anyone in an Occupational Health and Safety role.

Introduces a revised approach to the management and control of noise in the workplace. This book presents assessment and management of noise risks, practical advice on noise control, buying and hiring of quieter tools and machinery, selection and use of hearing protection and the development of health surveillance procedures.

Millions of Americans experience some degree of hearing loss. The Social Security Administration (SSA) operates programs that provide cash disability benefits to people with permanent impairments like hearing loss, if they can show that their impairments meet stringent SSA criteria and their earnings are below an SSA threshold. The National Research Council convened an expert committee at the request of the SSA to study the issues related to disability determination for people with hearing loss. This volume is the product of that study. Hearing Loss: Determining Eligibility for Social Security Benefits reviews current knowledge about hearing loss and its measurement and treatment, and provides an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the current processes and criteria. It recommends changes to strengthen the disability determination process and ensure its reliability and fairness. The book addresses criteria for selection of pure tone and speech tests, guidelines for test administration, testing of hearing in noise, special issues related to testing children, and the difficulty of predicting work capacity from clinical hearing test results. It should be useful to audiologists, otolaryngologists, disability advocates, and others who are concerned with people who have hearing loss.