Farmers are at an increased risk for hearing loss due to noise from farm machinery. Even though hearing protection devices can reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss, use of these devices among farmers is generally lacking, according to researchers who will be presenting their findings during the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) National Convention in New Orleans this week.

According to ASHA members Melissa Miller and Donald Fuller, less than half of the farmers they surveyed use hearing protection. Miller and Fuller state the four reasons why farmers do not use hearing protection: inconvenience, the inability to hear possible machine malfunctions, misplacing of the protection devices, and uncomfortable fit.

Miller and Fuller will argue that hearing protection manufacturers need to address the reasons farmers are not wearing hearing protection. The farmers surveyed said devices should be easy to use, nonintrusive, comfortable, and convenient.

Miller and Fuller will also discuss the need for hearing professionals to better educate farmers as to the hazards of not wearing hearing protection while operating farm machinery.

The researchers will discuss their findings on Thursday, November 19, at 8:00 a.m. in Hall G at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (Use of Hearing Protection by Farmers in Washington State, Presentation 0114, Poster Board 354).

Their presentation is part of ASHA's National Convention, which begins November 19 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The Convention will feature 3 days of workshops, paper sessions, and poster presentations, plus a keynote address by stage and screen star Ben Vereen, who will speak to the audience about how speech-language pathologists helped him find his way back to speech after a serious accident. The Convention runs through Saturday, November 21.

These important findings are one example of the research being discussed during ASHA's National Convention. Audiologists and speech-language pathologists as well as other speech and hearing scientists gather every year at ASHA's Convention to share their research with their colleagues. This sharing of information results in better care for those people they serve.

###

About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 135,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.

View all ASHA press releases at http://www.asha.org/about/news.

Listen to all ASHA podcasts at http://podcast.asha.org.