Released: March 23, 2005

Farming Is Noisy Business

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Research indicates that farmers experience greater hearing loss than do people in other occupations. In fact, a recent screening of more than 300 New York farmers found 77 percent with hearing loss, according to the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health.

Noise-induced hearing loss starts silently. By the time a farmer or those around him or her, notice a hearing impairment, the damage may be permanent, said John Slocombe, farm safety specialist with Kansas State University Research and Extension. Hearing loss is caused by both volume and the length exposure to loud noises.

On the farm, exposure to engine noise, loud animals or power tool motors can damage hearing in about two hours unless some type of hearing protection is used. Hearing protection decreases the intensity of sound that reaches the ear drum.

Slocombe offered these tips for saving farmers’ hearing:

* Try to control sounds around you. Keep machine parts well lubricated. Replace worn, loose or unbalanced chains, belts and other moving parts. Exchange faulty mufflers and whenever possible, use machines with cabs and keep windows closed.

* Reduce exposure to noise. Earmuffs and ear plugs block dangerous noises but still allow you to hear. Look for hearing protection with a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 25 or higher. If you already have hearing loss, you may want a slightly lower rating. Choose comfortable, easy to wear protection so you won’t have that as an excuse for not using it. Always read the label and follow directions for proper use. An added benefit is you will feel much less fatigued at the end of the day.

Farmers who think they might have hearing loss should be examined by a certified audiologist. An audiologist can determine the amount and severity of hearing loss, if any. Because farmers are continually exposed to hazardous noises, they should have their hearing tested regularly, Slocombe said.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Kerri Ebert
kebert@ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News