|
Farmers are at an increased risk for hearing loss due to noise from farm machinery. Even though hearing protection devices can reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss, use of these devices among farmers is generally lacking, according to researchers who presented their findings this morning at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) National Convention in New Orleans LA.
According to ASHA members Melissa Miller and Donald Fuller, less than half of the farmers they surveyed use hearing protection. Miller and Fuller indicated the four reasons why farmers do not use hearing protection: inconvenience, the inability to hear possible machine malfunctions, misplacing of the protection devices, and uncomfortable fit.
Miller and Fuller argued that hearing protection manufacturers need to address the reasons farmers are not wearing hearing protection. The farmers surveyed said devices should be easy to use, nonintrusive, comfortable, and convenient.
Miller and Fuller also discussed the need for hearing professionals to better educate farmers as to the hazards of not wearing hearing protection while operating farm machinery. The researchers discussed their findings Thursday, Nov. 19, at 8:00 am in Hall G at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (Use of Hearing Protection by Farmers in Washington State, Presentation 0114, Poster Board 354).
Their presentation is part of ASHA's National Convention, which began Nov. 19 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and runs through Saturday, Nov. 21. The 3-day convention includes workshops, paper sessions, and poster presentations, plus a keynote address by stage and screen star Ben Vereen that covers how speech-language pathologists helped him find his way back to speech after a serious accident.
For more information: www.asha.org/about/news
|