Prevalence and Predictors of Hearing Loss Among Farmworkers in the Mexico-US Border Region: A Cross-Sectional Study with National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Comparison.
Laura Coco, Gabriela D Sanchez, Colten Mouzin and 5 others
PMID 41527157WHAT IT FOUND
Most Latino farmworkers tested had high-frequency hearing loss.
Older age, male sex, and perceived noise exposure were linked to higher odds. A single self-report question about hearing ability can help decide who needs a full audiogram in mobile clinics, but it is not a substitute for testing.
Key findings
01High-frequency hearing loss was found in 63.1% of participants, a rate higher than the 42.2% seen in a comparison group of Latino adults from national health survey data.
02In adjusted models, older age, male sex, and greater perceived noise exposure were independent predictors of high-frequency hearing loss, while reported hearing protection use was not.
03A single question asking patients to rate their hearing as fair or poor identified audiometric high-frequency loss with 69% sensitivity and 59% specificity, supporting its use as a triage tool rather than a diagnostic test.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study used a convenience sample, which may not represent all farmworkers. The cross-sectional design cannot prove that noise exposure caused the hearing loss, only that they are associated. Hearing tests did not include 3 and 6 kHz frequencies, which may have led to an underestimation of noise-induced notches. Self-reported noise exposure and hearing protection use were not verified with objective dosimetry.
Declared interests
The authors declare that the study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board at San Diego State University. In the first year, no financial incentive was offered, but in 2024, a $10 gift card was introduced. There is no mention of commercial funding or conflicts of interest in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that providing hearing protection devices will prevent hearing loss in this population. The study found that hearing protection use was not significantly associated with lower odds of hearing loss, possibly due to poor fit or intermittent wear. Availability alone is not enough; fit-training and consistent use are required.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →