@article{ref1,
title="Does tinnitus, hearing asymmetry, or hearing loss predispose to occupational injury risk?",
journal="International journal of audiology",
year="2014",
author="Cantley, Linda F. and Galusha, Deron and Cullen, Mark R. and Dixon-Ernst, Christine and Tessier-Sherman, Baylah and Slade, Martin D. and Rabinowitz, Peter M. and Neitzel, Richard L.",
volume="54 Suppl 1",
number="",
pages="S30-6",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative contributions of tinnitus, asymmetrical hearing loss, low frequency hearing loss (pure tone average of 0.5, 1, 2, 3 kHz; PTA.5123), or high frequency hearing loss (pure tone average of 4, 6 kHz; PTA46), to acute injury risk among a cohort of production and maintenance workers at six aluminum manufacturing plants, adjusting for ambient noise exposure and other recognized predictors of injury risk. <br><br>DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. Study sample: The study considered 9920 workers employed during 2003 to 2008. The cohort consisted of 8818 workers (89%) whose complete records were available. <br><br>RESULTS: Adjusting for noise exposure and other recognized injury predictors, a 25% increased acute injury risk was observed among workers with a history of tinnitus in conjunction with high-frequency hearing loss (PTA46). Low frequency hearing loss may be associated with minor, yet less serious, injury risk. We did not find evidence that asymmetry contributes to injury risk. <br><br>CONCLUSION: These results provide evidence that tinnitus, combined with high-frequency hearing loss, may pose an important safety threat to workers, especially those who work in high-noise exposed environments. These at risk workers may require careful examination of their communication and hearing protection needs.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1499-2027",
doi="10.3109/14992027.2014.981305",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/14992027.2014.981305"
}