Outputs and Transfer - Research Goal 1.5:
Develop a hearing loss simulator

We released the simulator to the public on CD-ROM and a distribution and tracking system was set up in October 2004. The simulator is also available through the NIOSH web site. HLR program staff is demonstrating the simulator for health and safety practitioners in conjunction with the Noise Partnership and other industry and labor organizations.

Over 300 requests for the CD-ROM version of the simulator have been filled from stakeholders across the U.S. and other nations including Mexico, Israel, Indonesia, and Canada. Requesting organizations include universities, State safety and health agencies, company training offices, independent industrial hygiene trainers, and military installations.

Intermediate Outcomes

• Lee Hager of Sonomax, a major producer of hearing protectors and a prominent member of the National Hearing Conservation Association, has been using the simulator in training seminars. Many seminar attendees have subsequently requested the simulator for use in their own training and clinical practices.
  
  
• The simulator is a required component of a doctoral level hearing conservation course at Central Michigan University.
  
  
• The Better Hearing Institute has a link to the simulator as part of their online hearing loss training materials, as do several other organizations, including Gallaudet University and the Laborer’s Health and Safety Fund of North America.
  
  
• The Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association, the largest and oldest mining safety and health organization in the U.S. with over 4000 chapters, has devoted a page on their website promoting the simulator.
  
  
• MSHA is making use of the simulator. They have been including it in their workshops and seminars on hearing loss prevention at the National Mine Safety Academy and other sites, and they are adding it to their catalog of training products.
  
  
• Timothy Swisher of Employee Health, Inc. is using the simulator in his popular certification classes. Employee Health, Inc. was recently named the second most active provider of certification training for occupational hearing conservationists.
  
  
• State agencies in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania have asked to use the simulator.

>> View What's Ahead for this Research Subgoal

Publications:

Book/Chapters/Proceedings/Abstracts

Randolph RF, Kohler JL, Byrne DC [2002]. Communicating the Same Message with Different Media: An Example from Hearing Loss Prevention. In: Peters, RH, ed. Strategies for Improving Miners' Training. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002‑ 156.

Presentations:

Conferences

Moisan PL, Randolph RF, Hudak RL. “Effective Hearing Loss Prevention for Miners,” presented at TRAM/National Mine Instructors conference, Beaver, WV, Oct. 9-11, 2001.

Randolph RF. “Health Communications Products that Involve Workers in Hearing Loss Prevention,” presented at the NIOSH Steps to a Healthier U.S. Workforce 2004 Symposium, Washington, DC, October 26-28, 2004.

Randolph RF. " Hearing Loss Simulator Training," presented at the Ninth Mine Health and Safety Seminar in Allentown PA, January 19-20, 2005.

Randolph RF. “Hearing Loss Simulator and other Motivators,” presented at the NIOSH Mining Hearing Loss Prevention Workshop, Charleston, WV, June 21-22, 2005.

Randolph RF. “Innovations in Providing Hearing Loss Prevention Information,” presented at the NHCA Annual Conference, Dallas, TX, Feb. 20-22 2003.

Randolph, RF, Byrne DC. “Hearing Loss Prevention” presented at United Mine Workers of America Joint Industry Training, Beaver, WV, May 16, June 6, and June 13 2002.

Randolph RF, Kohler JL. “Hearing Loss Simulator Demonstration,” presented at Western Mining Resource Center, Joint Western Training Needs Assessment Seminar, Golden, CO, July 25-26, 2001.

Randolph RF, Kohler JL. “Save Your Hearing,” presented at the International Union of Operating Engineers Training and Safety & Health Conference, San Diego, CA, April 21, 2004.

Randolph RF, Kohler JL, Byrne DC. “Communicating the Same Message with Different Media: An Example from Hearing Loss Prevention,” presented at TRAM/National Mine Instructors conference, Beaver, WV, Oct. 2002.

Randolph RF, Kohler JL, Byrne DC. “Communicating the Same Message with Different Media: An Example from Hearing Loss Prevention.” presented at Western TRAM Conference, Reno, NV, June 16-19 2003.

Reinke D. “Hearing Loss Simulator: Utilizing New Technologies for Training Miners,” presented at the NIOSH Safety Seminar for Underground Stone Mines Conference.. Louisville, KY, December 7-8, 2004.

Reinke D. “Hearing Loss Simulator,” presented at the NIOSH Lake Lynn Underground Stone Workshop, June 8, 2004.

Reinke D. “Hearing Safety and Hearing Loss Simulator Demonstration,” presented at the Construction Association of Western Pennsylvania, 10 Hour OSHA Training, Pittsburgh, PA, February. 16, 2005.

Workshops

Mining Hearing Loss Prevention Workshop, Charleston, WV, June 21-22, 2005. NIOSH-PRL responsible for the planning, coordinating and directing of the workshop.

Software

NIOSH Hearing Loss Simulator, version 2.2.0.26. Released - 10/20/2004. Microsoft Windows software on CD-ROM.

Web Pages:

Hearing loss simulator software support and download page [www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/products/product47.htm].

“What Does a Hearing Loss Sound Like?” [www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/topics/hearingloss/hlsoundslike.htm].