School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP), Wisconsin, USA.
Noise Health. 2021 Jan-Mar;23(108):11-20. doi: 10.4103/nah.NAH_60_19.
All universities that meet state and/or federal requirements for employees' noise exposure must have a hearing conservation program (HCP). Universities with HCPs and Doctor of Audiology (AuD) programs could reap a range of benefits from interprofessional collaboration between these programs, including enhanced learning opportunities for AuD students; however, it is unclear whether this collaboration occurs consistently in different university settings. Despite a relatively robust literature around occupational audiology and the audiologist's role in hearing conservation in general, few studies examine this subject in the university setting.
This study seeks to provide insights into the role of the university audiologists in university HCPs that could help inform further exploration and potential pilot studies to enhance university-based occupational HCPs, ultimately supporting more rigorous professional training in occupational audiology in AuD programs.
This study's primary method was a survey questionnaire delivered to audiologists at U.S. universities. Survey questions explored university audiologists' role, involvement with their universities' HCPs, and benefits and barriers to collaboration with the HCPs.
The results indicate that although audiologists report that they have participated in hearing conservation generally at their universities, the majority of respondents were not actively involved with occupational HCPs.
Further research is needed to understand how university HCPs are managed and how effective they are. With greater awareness of audiologists' contributions to university HCPs, their role in this important workplace program could merit expansion.
所有符合州和/或联邦员工噪声暴露要求的大学都必须有听力保护计划（HCP）。有 HCP 和听力学家（AuD）课程的大学可以通过这些课程之间的专业合作获得一系列好处，包括为 AuD 学生提供更多的学习机会；然而，在不同的大学环境中，这种合作是否一致尚不清楚。尽管职业听力学和听力学家在一般听力保护方面的文献相对丰富，但很少有研究在大学环境中探讨这个主题。
本研究旨在深入了解大学听力学家在大学 HCP 中的作用，这有助于进一步探索和潜在的试点研究，以加强基于大学的职业 HCP，最终支持在 AuD 课程中更严格的职业听力学专业培训。
本研究的主要方法是向美国大学的听力学家发放问卷调查表。调查问卷探讨了大学听力学家的角色、他们与大学 HCP 的参与情况，以及与 HCP 合作的好处和障碍。
结果表明，尽管听力学家报告说他们在大学的听力保护方面有参与，但大多数受访者并没有积极参与职业 HCP。
需要进一步研究以了解大学 HCP 是如何管理的以及它们的效率如何。随着对听力学家对大学 HCP 贡献的认识的提高，他们在这个重要的工作场所计划中的作用可能值得进一步扩大。
