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A new study by a researcher from the聽College of Engineering and Computing Sciences聽reveals that people of color report a higher incidence of hearing loss.

The findings, published on April 13 in the journal , highlight hearing loss as a public health issue and may help employers reduce occupational hearing loss in an ever-evolving and increasingly diverse workforce.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that  are exposed to hazardous noise levels in the workplace each year. Compared to other common health conditions, like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, relatively little is known about the public health burden associated with hearing loss. In addition, the condition tends to go untreated and underreported, especially among individuals of historically , who face greater barriers to receiving preventative healthcare treatment.

As the average life expectancy in the United States continues to rise, along with an increasing age of retirement, the number of people with hearing loss is expected to grow. While workers with hearing loss are estimated to earn less than those with typical hearing (an average of , respectively), the issue also poses a considerable risk to the United States economy. The cost of lost productivity due to hearing loss is estimated to be as much as .

A new study by Research Assistant Professor聽David Nadler, Ph.D., explores how population demographics correlate with hearing loss. His findings could help to heighten awareness of workplace safety and diversity issues.

Using data from the CDC鈥檚 , in which participants self-reported on population demographics and hearing quality, Nadler conducted a statistical analysis to assess whether certain populations report a higher incidence of hearing loss. Respondents had previously recorded responses to the CDC鈥檚 race-ethnicity variable as either 鈥淢exican American,鈥� 鈥淥ther Hispanic,鈥� 鈥淣on-Hispanic White,鈥� 鈥淣on-Hispanic Black,鈥� 鈥淣on-Hispanic Asian,鈥� or 鈥淥ther Race.鈥� Participants also reported data on gender and how they perceived their overall state of health.

Nadler鈥檚 statistical analysis showed a significant correlation between hearing condition responses and participants鈥� race-ethnicity responses. Non-Hispanic White respondents recorded significantly better hearing conditions than the other groups. This finding is consistent with  highlighting this disparity. The findings also showed that females reported better hearing than males, and participants who ranked themselves as 鈥渉ealthier鈥� also reported better hearing.

鈥淎ddressing diversity issues may be the foundation for hearing health improvement [in the workplace]. A foundation can be built by promoting diversity in the safety workforce, which may foster innovative ideas, viewpoints, and tactics, ultimately bringing in measurable change,鈥� writes Nadler, whose research focuses on environmental health and occupational safety. 

One silver lining, as Nadler notes, is that smartphone apps show promise as a tool for employers to limit noise pollution in the workplace. Apps using a pure tone threshold have shown high sensitivity and specificity in hearing loss detection, allowing companies and managers to measure workplace noise and determine if workers may experience hazardous noise exposure. Using these types of tools, combined with the understanding that social determinants of health impact workers鈥� risk for hearing loss, can help managers make informed workplace safety decisions to mitigate occupational hearing loss.

鈥淣oise-induced hearing loss attributed to a workplace condition may result in an employee鈥檚 eligibility for compensation, so safety managers and human resource professionals need to address this occupational health issue with a toolset as diverse as their workforce,鈥� Nadler concludes.