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| Targets: |
| Rural workers exposed to noise. |
| Aims: |
| To prevent noise induced hearing loss through assessment and education. |
| Involves: |
Hearing assessment.
Immediate professional consultation about hearing status.
Practical advice about strategies and products to conserve hearing.
Interactive displays on noise control strategies and personal hearing protection.
Counselling.
Recommendation for follow up with doctor, audiologist or ENT for advice about coping with hearing loss. |
| Conducted by: |
Speech Pathologists.
Audiologists.
Nurses.
Hearing Consultants.
Farmers. |
| Findings of Farm Noise and Hearing Project over the past 5 years: |
Approximately 90% of farmers were at risk of noise induced hearing loss.
60-80% of farmers between the ages of 30 and 70 were found to have significant hearing loss which could be attributed to exposure to farm noise.
Most farmers are unaware of the degree of their hearing loss.
Many farmers and family members identified difficulties that were consistent with a noise induced hearing loss, such as difficulties hearing over background noise and ringing in the ears.
Noise induced hearing loss has occurred in all age groups. |
| Positive outcomes of the project to date: |
An increasing awareness amongst farmers of the work practices and products available to prevent hearing loss.
Resources are available and are continually updated to ensure that they are useful and practical for farmers.
Ongoing monitoring of hearing is often available through the project.
Involvement of farmers and farming organisations has resulted in positive relevant information being distributed in an appropriate way and access to farming communities has increased.
Education is increasingly focussing on longer term strategies for preventing hearing loss, including reducing sources of noise and adapting work practices to reduce exposure to noise. |
