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NHCA E-News - December 2025
 
2026 NHCA Annual Conference
Registration is Open!
On February 5-7, 2026, come together with colleagues at the Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown Hotel in Fort Worth, TX to engage with and learn from fellow industry professionals, visit with the organizations who support the association, learn about new products and services, AND get your CEUs! 
Click Here to Learn More
 
2026 Conference Rates
Take advantage of our exclusive Early Bird discounted rates to save $50 on your full conference registration fee! You must register by December 19th to receive this special rate (does not apply to the Student rate). 
Register Now
 
Listen Up from the NHCA Experts
Every two months, NHCA experts contribute a short article to the IHW Magazine. The latest issue included the NHCA article titled "What Industrial Hygienists should know about CAOHC" by Andy Merkley (Industrial Hygiene, Current issue), November/December issue, page 24).  
 
The issue has a bonus section on Hearing Protection (pg. 22). Past IHW magazine issues can also be viewed at: https://industrialhygienepub.com/. e-News will alert you the next time one of our NHCA experts contributes an article.  
 
Recent Hearing Research

1. Association of Noise Exposure, Genetic Susceptibility, and Lifestyle With Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study. Wang D, Zhou L, Hao X, Chen Z, Wang B, Li W.J Diabetes Res. 2025 Nov 18;2025:8974749. doi: 10.1155/jdr/8974749. eCollection 2025.PMID: 41306536 Free PMC article. 

2. Co-exposure to heat and noise on workers' health: evidence from a large-scale cross-sectional surveillance study in China. Li M, Zhang Y, Wu C, Jiang Y, Jing L, Wu J, Lin J, Xiang J.BMC Public Health. 2025 Oct 21;25(1):3533. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-24592-1.PMID: 41121082 Free PMC article. 

3. Personal, social, and natural co-exposure pattern and plasma proteins in cardiometabolic diseases. Tang X, Xu H, Wu G, Yang S, Ye Y, An Y, Jiang Y, Wang Z, Chen S, Zhang J, Xiao X, Guo B, Zhao X.Nat Commun. 2025 Nov 25;16(1):10498. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-65516-2.PMID: 41290610 Free PMC article. 

4. Short-term impact of preschool sound exposure on outer hair cell function in young children: An analysis using pressurised distortion product otoacoustic emissions. Sandström L, Fredriksson S, Mäki-Torkko E, Ögren M, Fels J, Waye KP.PLoS One. 2025 Nov 21;20(11):e0332863. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0332863. eCollection 2025.PMID: 41270017 Free PMC article. 

5. Long-term exposure to aircraft noise and cardiovascular disease hospitalization and mortality near major airports in the UK, 2006-2015 - A small area study. Konstantinoudis G, Atilola G, Jephcote C, Adams K, Gulliver J, Elliott P, Hansell AL, Blangiardo M.Environ Int. 2025 Nov;205:109884. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109884. Epub 2025 Oct 26.PMID: 41172572 Free article. 

6. Is Work-Related Hearing Loss Associated With Dementia? Evidence From a High-Risk Population. Cloeren M, Dement J, Quackenbush J, Quinn P, Ringen K.Am J Ind Med. 2025 Nov;68(11):1013-1027. doi: 10.1002/ajim.70026. Epub 2025 Oct 3.PMID: 41039914 Free PMC article. 

7. Residential exposure to traffic noise and incidence of depression and anxiety from childhood through adulthood: a Finnish register study. He Y, Lahti-Pulkkinen M, Metsälä J, Halonen JI, Miettunen J, Kerckhoffs J, Kantomaa M, Kajantie E, Sebert S, Pulakka A.Environ Res. 2025 Nov 15;285(Pt 2):122443. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.122443. Epub 2025 Jul 26.PMID: 40721104 Free article. 

8. Long-term exposure to air pollution and road traffic noise in relation to dispensed antidepressant medications: A Swedish cohort study. Lu SSM, Ekbäck E, Sommar JN, Anderson S, Olstrup H, Harlid S, Gustafsson S, Mattisson K, Stockfelt L, Rein T, Nalvarte I, Rüegg J, Oudin A.Environ Res. 2025 Nov 15;285(Pt 2):122435. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.122435. Epub 2025 Jul 24.PMID: 40713997 Free article. 
 
Sound Postcard

Have you ever wondered how plants communicate information – what their native language might be? Two organizations - ONNA, a regenerative creative studio and ArtPark, a collaboration between New York State Parks and a nonprofit tried to find an answer to this, and used the information to compose music!  

They placed electrodes on native plants capturing the plants’ bioelectrical signals as they responded to light, temperature, and touch. These signals, subtle shifts in conductivity, were translated into MIDI data revealing each plants’ unique internal rhythms. This living data became the foundation for new musical works. Composers interpreted the plants’ unseen language, transforming it into rich, emotive compositions. You can read the original article here and listen to the symphony here!  

Thanks are due to Elliott Berger for sharing this story. If you have a fun or interesting “sound” postcard to share, send it our way!
 
NHCA Members: Tell Us Your News!

Speaking, publishing, researching, performing, hearing? NHCA would love to hear about exciting changes and achievements in your professional and personal endeavors.
Tell Us Your News
 


Who is NHCA?


We are a group of passionate hearing conservationists willing to share their expertise to prevent hearing loss. NHCA members include occupational and clinical audiologists, industrial hygienists, occupational health nurses, acoustical engineers and technicians, physicians, occupational health and safety professionals, military personnel, university professors, students, researchers and others with an interest in hearing conservation. 





Visit the Virtual Marketplace Year-Round! 

Learn more about NHCA’s sponsors by accessing profiles, videos, and other helpful links here.

Our Vision: To prevent hearing loss and other auditory disorders due to noise and secondary environmental factors in all sectors of society.

Our Mission: NHCA provides leadership, expertise, and education on hearing loss prevention strategies and services to the broader professional community and empowers and supports members through networking and advocacy.
 
If you are not a member, click here and join today!

Vidya Krull, PhD, CCC-A
Editor, NHCA E-News
[email protected]

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. 
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