Key points
- The Hearing Loss Prevention Program provides national and world leadership to reduce the prevalence of occupational hearing loss due to exposure to hazardous noise and ototoxic substances (chemical, pharmaceutical, metals).
- Through research and surveillance, the Program develops best practices and interventions, including engineering noise controls and personal protective equipment.
Overview
The Hearing Loss Prevention (HLP) Program works to reduce occupational hearing loss. NIOSH is the primary federal agency researching occupational hearing loss, including causes and strategies for prevention. Occupational noise and ototoxic exposures affect millions of workers in a wide range of industrial sectors. Effective control of these exposures is necessary for preventing occupational hearing loss. The HLP Program contributes research results, recommendations, technical information for occupational health professionals, and dissemination of practical information to the public.
Why it matters
Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses. Hearing loss can greatly impact quality of life and is linked with an increased risk for accidents, cardiovascular conditions, depression, and worsening memory. Hearing hazards are common across all industries. Approximately 27 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise and about 22 million are exposed to chemicals that can damage hearing (ototoxic) each year. NIOSH develops recommendations and best practices for reducing exposures to hearing hazards. Through surveillance, NIOSH also identifies high risk industries and occupations and also monitor progress in hearing loss prevention efforts.
Program priorities
The HLP Program has selected research priorities and collaborated with other NIOSH research programs to write the research goals in the NIOSH Strategic Plan for FYs 2019-2026. Priority areas include (but are not limited to):
- Researching the evaluation and control of hazardous exposures.
- Developing noise controls and ensuring effective hearing protector use.
- Performing occupational hearing loss surveillance.
- Providing scientific basis for policies and guidelines that will inform best practices for hearing loss prevention efforts.
Get involved
The National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) brings together individuals and organizations to share information, form partnerships, and promote adoption and dissemination of solutions that work.
The HLP Program helps lead the NORA Hearing Loss Prevention Cross-Sector Council, which unites its members under the shared interest in preventing work-related hearing loss.
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