Hearing Research – Current Insight

Posted September 9, 2021

  • Researchers from the Canadian Department of Health have published results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey that do not support an association between loud noise exposure and changes in biomarkers for cardiovascular disease outcomes, such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Researchers concluded that data from this large cross-sectional study showed expected results for hearing loss, but did not support the theory that noise is a serious contributor to cardiovascular disease.
Michaud, DS, Marro, L and McNamee, JP (2021).  Self-reported exposure to occupational noise and cardiovascular disease in Canada: Results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 150, 990 (DOI: 10.1121/10.0005588). 
  • A recent study of voluntary daily noise monitoring showed potential for improving the success of hearing conservation programs. One hundred ten noise-exposed volunteers were monitored on average 150 times per year. Researchers concluded that daily monitoring was feasible and found that a greater frequency of reporting daily noise exposure monitoring results was associated with less hearing loss.

Rabinowitz P, Galusha D, Cantley LF, Dixon-Ernst C, Neitzel R (2021). Feasibility of a daily noise monitoring intervention for prevention of noise-induced hearing loss. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 0: 1-6. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2020-107351.

  • The effects of hydrocarbon fuels, such as jet fuel, on the auditory and vestibular system are not completely understood, although such agents are known to impair central nervous system function. Although the current state of the research is not yet complete, authors of a new publication encourage audiologists to consider screening for chemical exposures as part of routine patient care protocols.

Morata, TC, Hungerford, M and Konrad-Martin, D (2021). Viewpoint: Potential risks to hearing functions of service members from exposure to jet fuels. American Journal of Audiology, 20: 1-6. Doi.org/ full/10.1044/2021_AJA-20-00226.