The Impact of Occupational Noise Exposure on Hyperacusis: a Longitudinal Population Study of Female Workers in Sweden.
Sofie Fredriksson, Laith Hussain-Alkhateeb, Kjell Torén and 6 others
PMID 34966161WHAT IT FOUND
Women in jobs with 75 to 85 dB(A) noise had double the risk of hyperacusis.
Preschool teachers faced over three times the risk. This suggests harm occurs below the 85 dB(A) safety limit, urging better noise management in schools and similar settings.
Key findings
01Working in occupations with 75 to 85 dB(A) noise exposure was associated with a significantly increased risk of hyperacusis compared to lower noise jobs.
02Preschool teachers specifically had a substantially higher risk, with hazard ratios more than three times that of the reference group.
03The increased risk in moderate noise groups persisted in sensitivity analyses using stricter definitions of hyperacusis symptoms.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study relied on self-reported hyperacusis symptoms and occupational history, which introduces potential recall bias regarding the exact year of onset. The response rate was 43% overall, which may limit the generalisability of the findings. Noise exposure was assigned by job family using a matrix, which cannot account for individual variations in specific tasks or the use of hearing protection devices. The study could not definitively establish causality due to its retrospective nature, and the high prevalence of hyperacusis in the reference group suggests other factors may be involved.
Declared interests
The study was funded by grants from the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (Forte) and the Amlöv Association for Neurological, Rheumatological and Audiological Research. Region Västra Götaland supported the dissemination of the study.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the non-significant result in the highest noise exposure group (over 85 dB(A)) as evidence that high noise is safe. This group contained only six events, leading to a wide confidence interval and low statistical power, and sensitivity analyses suggested an increased risk for severe symptoms in this group.