We are excited to have you join us for an amazing educational line up, check out the agenda below for the 2025 Conference. Please note that this agenda is subject to change.
Around 9 million Americans currently face the hazard of noise induced hearing loss (Dobie, 2008). Personal Attenuation Ratings (PAR) reflect the custom attenuation provided by ear plugs and can be helpful in implementing hearing conservation programs in industrial settings. PAR ratings can be confounded by lack of instruction on self insertion of ear plugs. Differences in shape and size of ear canals also play a role. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate PARs obtained from paper mill workers. PARs from paper mill workers were compared to a control group comprised of AuD students enrolled in a hearing conservation course. Audiograms and PARs were obtained from 10 paper mills workers after self insertion of ear plugs. A WAHTs system was used to collect the data. The audiometric data was used to compile information on years lived with disability (YLD). Mill workers exhibited high YLD. Statistical analysis was performed using independent samples T test to compare two groups, paper mill workers vs. controls. T test results showed that the PAR values were significantly reduced in paper mill workers, relatively to controls (T= -7.44; P <.001). These results illustrate the importance of experience required in self insertion of ear plugs.
