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Noise and Occupational Hearing Loss

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Services (including Public Safety) Statistics

Noise Exposure1 and Hearing Protection2

  • Approximately 11-34% of all workers in Services (21% overall) have been exposed to hazardous noise, depending on sub-sector. Sub-sectors with the highest percentage exposed were:
    • Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation (34%)
    • Public Administration (including Public Safety) (28%)
    • Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (28%)
  • 41-90% of noise-exposed Services workers report not wearing hearing protection, depending on sub-sector. The sub-sectors with the highest percentages of workers were:
    • Accommodation and Food Services (90%)
    • Education Services (82%)
    • Finance and Insurance (80%)

Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

  • Approximately 8-15% of all Services workers (10% overall) have hearing difficulty, depending on sub-sector.1
  • About 6-10% of all Services workers have tinnitus, depending on sub-sector.3
  • About 17% of noise-exposed tested Services workers have a material hearing impairment.4 Hearing impairment is hearing loss that impacts day-to-day activities.
  • 13% of noise-exposed tested Services workers have hearing impairment in both ears.5

Trends Among Noise-Exposed Tested Services Workers (1981-2010)6

  • The prevalence for Services decreased less than 1% over 30 years (1981-2010) as compared with a less than 1% reduction for all industries.
  • The incidence for Services decreased 1% over 25 years (1986-2010) as compared with a 2% reduction for all industries.
  • The adjusted risk for Services decreased 42% over 25 years (1986-2010) as compared with a 46% reduction for all industries.
Prevalence of Hearing Loss by Time Period and Industry Sector, 1981 – 2010, for 1,816,812 Workers
Prevalence of Hearing Loss by Time Period and Industry Sector, 1981 – 2010, for 1,816,812 Workers

Adapted from Figure 1, Masterson et al. 2015

Incidence of Hearing Loss by Time Period and Industry Sector, 1986 – 2010, for 560,320 Workers
Incidence of Hearing Loss by Time Period and Industry Sector, 1986 – 2010, for 560,320 Workers

Adapted from Figure 2, Masterson et al. 2015

Risk of Incident Hearing Loss Compared to the 1986-1990 Time Period, by Industry Sector, for 560,320 Workers
Risk of Incident Hearing Loss Compared to the 1986-1990 Time Period, by Industry Sector, for 560,320 Workers

Adapted from Figure 3, Masterson et al. 2015

Sources:

  1. Kerns E, Masterson EA, Themann CL, & Calvert GM. (2018). Cardiovascular conditions, hearing difficulty and occupational noise exposure within U.S. industries and occupations. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 61, 477-491.
  2. Green DR, Masterson EA, Themann CL. (in press). Prevalence of hearing protection device non-use among noise-exposed U.S. workers in 2007 and 2014. American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
  3. Masterson EA, Themann CL, Luckhaupt SE, Li J, & Calvert GM. (2016). Hearing difficulty and tinnitus among U.S. workers and non-workers in 2007. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 59, 290-300.
  4. Sekhon NK, Masterson EA, & Themann CL. (in press). Prevalence of hearing loss among noise-exposed workers within the Services Sector, 2006-2015. International Journal of Audiology.
  5. Masterson EA, Bushnell PT, Themann CL, & Morata TC. (2016). Hearing impairment among noise-exposed workers — United States, 2003–2012. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 65(15), 389-394.
  6. Masterson EA, Deddens JA, Themann CL, Bertke S., & Calvert GM. (2015). Trends in worker hearing loss by industry sector, 1981-2010. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 58, 392-401.