Synergistic Effects of Occupational Noise and Aging on Hearing Loss: A Nationwide Industry-Based Analysis

Abstract

Due to the underestimation of the combined effects of aging and occupational noise exposure, hearing loss is a significant global public health problem. This study looked at how age and noise exposure from the workplace affected hearing loss in American workers. The pure-tone average (0.5–4 kHz) across twelve industry categories categorized by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) was used to define hearing thresholds using more than 1.1 million de-identified audiometric records (2000–2008) from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Industry×age interactions, betweenindustry differences, and within-industry age effects were evaluated using logistic regression models. Age-related hearing deterioration is made worse by occupational noise, according to a substantial interaction between age and industry that suggests a synergistic rather than additive connection. These results demonstrate the increased risk among older workers in high-exposure jobs and offer extensive evidence of varying vulnerability to hearing loss across industries. To reduce cumulative auditory impairment in the aging workforce, it may be crucial to integrate wearable or mobile health devices and strengthen targeted hearing conservation initiatives.