Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness of a co-worker-implemented Hearing Loss Prevention Program (HLPP) in the road construction industry. A secondary purpose of this study was to determine road construction workers’ perceptions of their own hearing ability and if these perceptions were related to their experiences in the road construction industry. A total of 37 employees from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation participated in this study, which included a pre-test questionnaire, a co-worker presented HLPP, and a post-test questionnaire. The pre-test and post-test questionnaires included questions on Noise Induced Hearing Loss, Hearing Loss Prevention, how often one uses Hearing Protective Devices (HPDs), knowledge of Hearing Loss Prevention strategies/techniques, and one’s perception of their hearing loss status. The HLPP educated participants about the anatomy and physiology of the ear, severities of hearing loss, loudness levels of various construction equipment and how to measure these intensity levels, HPDs, and the three major messages of Hearing Loss Prevention. Overall, participants demonstrated an increase in knowledge of hearing and how to protect hearing. In addition to this, participants did not perceive that they had a hearing loss. These findings suggest that a co-worker-implemented HLPP is clinically effective in the road construction industry.

Advisor

Goldberg, Donald

Department

Communication Studies

Keywords

Noise Induced Hearing Loss, Hearing Loss Prevention Program, Hearing Protective Devices, road construction industry

Publication Date

2017

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2017 Hannah M. Gaul