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NHCA E-News
September 2023
Register Today for the Live Webinar:
Using Age Adjustments in Audiometric Monitoring: Validity Concerns, Practical Considerations, and OSHA Guidance
CAOHC and NHCA have teamed up to offer high-level webinar content on hot topics, with top-notch speakers!
When:  September 21, 2023, 2:00PM - 3:00PM EST
CEUs: 1-hour CEU (AAA ) and (0.1 ASHA) 
Pricing: $38 – NHCA/CAOHC members, $50 – Non-members

About the Webinar: In monitoring audiometry, adjustments to threshold changes (often called age corrections) can be used to account for changes in hearing that may be due to non-noise factors.  The OSHA hearing conservation amendment (45 CFR 1910.95) includes an age adjustment table based on a relatively small NIOSH study from the early 1970s.  However, if age adjustments are used, the OSHA Technical Manual currently recommends using recently published age adjustment data (Flamme et al., 2019) instead of the tables in the OSHA hearing conservation amendment.  The updated age adjustment tables reveal a population trend toward less age-related change than the original NIOSH tables at younger ages, address differences by race/ethnicity, and extend the age range to account for older workers in today’s workforce.  NIOSH continues to recommend against any age adjustment in threshold shift determination.  This presentation includes the underpinnings of the NIOSH adjustment tables in the noise standard, the validity issues that initiated the update, and the development and validation of the age adjustment tables that are now recommended in the OSHA Technical Manual.
 
Presenters: Kristy Deiters and Gregory Flamme
Register Now
 
Student Conference Award Application due October 15, 2023
Student attendance at the Annual Conference of the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) is important to the goals of the association and its interest in leadership development. Award recipients receive paid annual student membership for the year and conference registration fees for the upcoming annual conference. Travel expense for the conference (up to $800) is reimbursed. All awards are made possible by donations from NHCA members and other sponsors.

Eligibility Requirements
  • actively pursuing a graduate degree in a discipline related to hearing conservation
  • enrolled at least half-time in an accredited educational institution
  • have completed at least 2 semesters of graduate work (at least half-time)
  • submit application with compelling personal statement of interest
  • submit letter of recommendation (preferably completed by faculty member)
  • no previous SCA (ineligible if received SCA in past) 
  • cannot concurrently apply for an SRA in same year
Student Conference Award Application Process
Students must submit a complete application by the official SCA due date, October 15, 2023. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

The application consists of:

1. A Letter of Recommendation
Must be completed by a person who knows the applicant well, preferably faculty. (Click Here to Download the 2023 SCA LOR Guidelines - .pdf). This letter should specify the recommender’s relationship to the applicant and length of acquaintance, and include:
  • Information to assist the NHCASF Selection Committee in evaluating the applicant’s passion and potential for future contributions to hearing loss prevention/hearing conservation, their academic rigor, and any other pertinent accomplishments or qualities you would like to share.
  • The Letter may also include descriptions of the applicant’s participation in community and campus projects, research, or special programs relevant to the application. 
2. Completed Online Application 
To be considered for this award, students must complete an application which includes a compelling personal statement of interest (maximum 300 words). Only students with a sincere interest in NHCA and passion for hearing loss prevention will be considered.

Click Here to Submit Application!

If you have any questions, please contact:
NHCA Scholarship Foundation
Phone: 303-224-9022
Email: [email protected]
Learn More & Submit Application
 
Seeking NHCA Director of Communication
We are seeking a Director of Communication (DOC) to finish out the current term ending in February 2025. This volunteer will be responsible for working with the Spectrum and e-News Editors, providing final approval for the newsletters and other communications, and Website content management. The DOC does not do this alone - this is a team effort and mentoring will be provided! If interested, please contact Elizabeth Masterson at [email protected].
 
Seeking NHCA Scholarship Foundation Director
We are looking for a new member of the NHCA Scholarship Foundation. This volunteer will enlist and review applications for our Conference, Research, and Tuition Awards, and will work with the NHCASF team to raise money for these three awards at each year’s conference.  If interested, please contact Marjorie Grantham at [email protected].
 
Recent Hearing Research
Is Methotrexate Ototoxic? Investigating the Ototoxic Late Effects of Pediatric Cancer Treatment. Moore B, Sheets G, Doss J, Umrigar A, Norman M, Fang Z, Prasad P, Musso A, Clay S, Tsien F. Am J Audiol. 2023 Aug 2:1-8. doi: 10.1044/2023_AJA-22-00157. Online ahead of print. PMID: 37532243

Evaluating the Potential Impact of Ototoxicant Exposure on Worker Health. Beaver C, Schneider J. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2023 Aug 4:1-48. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2023.2240874. Online ahead of print. PMID: 37540204

Healthcare Professionals and Noise-Generating Tools: Challenging Assumptions about Hearing Loss Risk. Alberti G, Portelli D, Galletti C. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Aug 4;20(15):6520. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20156520. PMID: 37569060

Association between Simultaneous Occurrence of Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Noise-Induced Vestibular Dysfunction: A Systematic Review. Nadri H, Khavanin A, Kim IJ, Akbari M, Nadri F. Iran J Public Health. 2023 Apr;52(4):683-694. doi: 10.18502/ijph.v52i4.12436. PMID: 37551182. Review.

Risk Factors Associated With Occupational Noise Induced Hearing Loss In The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study Of Latinos: A Cross-Sectional Epidemiologic Investigation. Arnold ML, Sanchez VA, Carrasco DN, Martinez D, Dhar S, Stickel A, Perreira KM, Athanasios T, Lee DJ. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2023 Aug 24:1-15. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2023.2250403. Online ahead of print. PMID: 37615410

Asymmetry of Occupational Noise Induced Hearing Loss: An Electrophysiological Approach. DeJonckere PH, Lebacq J. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2023 Mar 29;27(3):e499-e510. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1750766. eCollection 2023 Jul. PMID: 37564477

Hear and Now: Ongoing Clinical Trials to Prevent Drug-Induced Hearing Loss. Lee J, Fernandez K, Cunningham LL. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2023 Aug 10. doi: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-033123-114106. Online ahead of print. PMID: 37562496 Review.
 
Latest NHCA "Listen Up" Column in the Industrial Hygiene in the Workplace (IHW) Magazine
Every two months, NHCA experts contribute a short article to the IHW Magazine. The latest issue included the NHCA article titled "Hearing Protection – Risk of Overprotection" by Susan Cooper (https://industrialhygienepub.com/digital-edition/), July/August issue, page 24).

Future and 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.
 
Sound Postcard
Can you hear the difference between a female and male mosquito?
 
Listen: https://tinyurl.com/RKwuzright
 
To learn more: https://tinyurl.com/Hairy-ears
 
Hearing of malaria mosquitoes is modulated by a beta-adrenergic-like octopamine receptor which serves as insecticide target. Georgiades, M., Alampounti, A., Somers, J. et al. Nat Commun 14, 4338 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40029-y
 
Thank you, Susan Cooper, for this week’s sound postcard from NPR’s 18 August Goats and Soda, by Max Barnhart.
 
Save the Date for the 2024 NHCA Annual Conference!

We hope to see you at the 2024 NHCA Annual Conference February 8-10 in beautiful Albuquerque, New Mexico! 
 
Like to Get Ahead?

We are looking for our next head seeking hair cells, for our NHCA Scholarship Foundation fundraiser at our 2024 Conference. Thank you, again, to Bill Murphy, for sharing his pate with all of us! 
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.
Click here to 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!
- Marjorie Grantham - Editor

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. 
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