RCHC Community Project Abstracts

Hearing Loss in Rural Oregon
Date of project: 2/9/2009

As with many conditions, the prevalence of hearing impairment in rural areas is greater than that of urban areas. While a number of causes for this discrepancy have been identified, one prevailing and preventable reason is the increased noise exposure inherent in rural occupations such as agriculture and manufacturing as well as activities such as hunting. With prevention in mind, two populations were identified and surveyed, and a unique intervention was formulated for each group. The first group included elementary students, for whom an educational program focusing on the science of hearing and the prevention of hearing loss was introduced. The second group consisted of individuals at increased risk of hearing loss as a result of noise exposure. For this group, a patient handout was created that focused on education, prevention, and intervention, as it included a hearing impairment questionnaire and a list of local resources for those requiring further evaluation or treatment

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