Negotiating hearing disability and hearing disabled identities

Using disability theory as a framework and social science theories of identity to strengthen the arguments, this article explores empirically how working-age adults confront the medical diagnosis of hearing impairment. For most participants hearing impairment threatens the stability of social interaction and the construction of hearing disabled identities is seen as shaped in the interaction with the hearing impaired person's surroundings. In order to overcome the potential stigmatization the 'passing' as normal becomes predominant. For many the diagnosis provokes radical redefinitions of the self. The discursively produced categorization and subjectivity of senescence mean that rehabilitation technologies such as hearing aids identify a particular life-style (disabled) which determines their social significance. Thus wearing a hearing aid works against the contemporary attempt to create socially ideal bodily presentations of the self, as the hearing aid is a symbolic extension of the body's lack of function.     

Noise-induced hearing loss and hearing conservation in mining

BACKGROUND: Noise exposure is prevalent in mining, and as the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss has not changed much in the past two decades, hearing conservation is an important issue. OBJECTIVES: To review the literature and highlight important developments in the field. METHODS: A review of the literature using OVID as the primary search engine, using the search terms as: noise, occupational; hearing loss, noise induced; ear protective devices; and mining. RESULTS: A total of 66 articles were found, but only 11 were in the English language and few were published in the past 10 years. This is disappointing, because neither noise exposure nor the consequent risk of noise-induced hearing loss seems to have changed much in the past 20 years. Noise is, however, a generic hazard, and this article reviews current best practice in prevention.     

多种听力方法组合在婴幼儿听力诊断中的应用

目的:探讨多种联合检查方法在婴幼儿听力诊断中的临床应用。方法:选择2004年5月～2008年5月住院出生3～7天,经耳声发射(otoacoustic emissions,OAE)听力筛查(初筛、复筛)均未通过的180例婴幼儿,分别在3月龄～6月龄进行听力测试,方法如下:①畸变产物耳声发射(distortion product otoacoustic emissions,DPOAE)+听性脑干反应(Auditorybrainstem response,ABR)+声导抗(acoustic immittance measurement,AIM);②畸变产物耳声发射(DPOAE)+听性脑干反应(ABR)+多频稳态听觉诱发反应(auditory steady-state responses,ASSR)+声导抗(AIM);③听性脑干反应(ABR)。结果:180例新生儿3～6月龄两次全部完成ABR测试,其中360耳中299耳正常,占83.06%,38例(61耳)异常,占16.94%(61/360耳)。听力损失程度:轻度2耳、中度15耳、重度20耳和极重度24耳,重度和极重度占总听力障碍72.13%(44/61耳)。ASSR测试结果60例(120耳),0.5～4kHz平均反应阈,听力损失程度基本与ABR相符,异常12例(22耳),占18.33%;120例(240耳)DPOAE测试,其中189耳通过,占78.75%(189/240耳),51耳未通过,占21.25%。声导抗(AIM)测试120例,鼓室曲线为A型104例,为B型或C型55耳,异常39例,异常率23.00%。结论:在婴幼儿听力诊断评估中,以ABR v波反应阈作为听力损失指标,但不能作为听力损失诊断唯一工具;只有多种联合听力检测才能有效的提高准确率,确保整个筛查诊断过程中不出现假阴性及听神经病的漏诊;同时有助于确诊婴幼儿听力损失的性质和程度,提高干预效果。     

Age-related hearing loss

Age-related hearing loss or presbycusis is hearing loss that progressively worsens with age. With the expected increase in the number of elderly in the United States, the problem is anticipated to be increasingly common, and the impact widely felt in coming years. This article discusses the causes and mechanisms of this type of hearing loss and current research that may lead to new treatments.     

Occupational hearing loss

Hearing loss is a significant and unfortunately common occupational malady. Over the past several decades both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have initiated efforts to better understand and to limit the occurrence of occupational hearing loss, particularly as it relates to excessive noise exposure. This paper briefly addresses the pathophysiology of noise-induced hearing loss and then describes the occupational and non-occupational factors which influence a worker's risk of hearing loss. The primary foci of this discussion are the clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and management of occupational hearing loss. Issues of prevention, OSHA-mandated hearing conservation efforts and compensation are reviewed.