We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Economic Impact of Hearing Loss and Reduction of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in the United States.
- Authors
Neitzel, Richard L.; Swinburn, Tracy K.; Hammer, Monica S.; Eisenberg, Daniel
- Abstract
Purpose: Hearing loss (HL) is pervasive and debilitating, and noise-induced HL is preventable by reducing environmental noise. Lack of economic analyses of HL impacts means that prevention and treatment remain a low priority for public health and environmental investment. Method: This article estimates the costs of HL on productivity by building on established estimates for HL prevalence and wage and employment differentials between those with and without HL. Results: We estimate that HL affects more than 13% of the working population. Not all HL can be prevented or treated, but if the 20% of HL resulting from excessive noise exposure were prevented, the economic benefit would be substantial-we estimate a range of $58 billion to $152 billion annually, with a core estimate of $123 billion. We believe this is a conservative estimate, because consideration of additional costs of HL, including health care and special education, would likely further increase the benefits associated with HL prevention. Conclusion: HL is costly and warrants additional emphasis in public and environmental health programs. This study represents an important first step in valuing HL prevention -in particular, prevention of noise-induced HL-where new policies and technologies appear promising.
- Subjects
UNITED States; NOISE-induced deafness; NOISE-induced deafness prevention; ECONOMIC impact; NOISE (Work environment); PUBLIC health; COST; LABOR productivity; WAGE differentials; ECONOMICS; ENVIRONMENTAL health; AGING; COMPARATIVE studies; ECONOMIC aspects of diseases; HEARING disorders; RESEARCH funding; STATISTICS; MATHEMATICAL variables; WAGES; DATA analysis; DISEASE prevalence; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; ODDS ratio
- Publication
Journal of Speech, Language & Hearing Research, 2017, Vol 60, Issue 1, p182
- ISSN
1092-4388
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1044/2016_JSLHR-H-15-0365