{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]],"date-time":"2026-09-10T04:07:06Z","timestamp":1789013226676,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,21]],"date-time":"2023-02-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1676937600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"University of Miami Laboratory","award":["U-LINK 21-1728"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["U-LINK 21-1728"]}]},{"name":"University of Miami Laboratory","award":["UL1TR002736"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UL1TR002736"]}]},{"name":"National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health","award":["U-LINK 21-1728"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["U-LINK 21-1728"]}]},{"name":"National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health","award":["UL1TR002736"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UL1TR002736"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Firefighters are exposed to extensive hazardous noise while on the job, both during routine tasks at the station and when responding to calls. However, little is known about firefighters\u2019 occupational noise hazards. This study employed mixed methods, including focus groups, a survey, and audiometric testing, to identify sources of noise in the firefighters\u2019 work environment, determine hearing protective strategies, discern firefighters\u2019 perceptions of occupational noise exposure and impacts to their health, and quantify the prevalence of hearing loss among South Florida firefighters. A total of 6 senior officers served in an expert panel, 12 participated in focus groups, 300 completed the survey, and 214 received audiometric tests. Most firefighters were unaware of the risk and their departments\u2019 policies, and did not participate in hearing protection practices and avoided using hearing protection devices, which they believed impede team communication and situational awareness. Nearly 30% of participating firefighters showed mild to profound hearing loss, a prevalence that is considerably worse than expected by normal aging alone. Educating firefighters about noise-induced hearing loss early in their careers may have significant health implications for their future. These findings provide insights for developing technologies and programs to mitigate the effects of noise exposure in the firefighting population.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20053826","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,22]],"date-time":"2023-02-22T02:57:38Z","timestamp":1677034658000},"page":"3826","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Prevalence of Hearing Loss and Perceptions of Hearing Health and Protection among Florida Firefighters"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2618-2186","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Barbara","family":"Millet","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Interactive Media, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2000-5357","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hillary A.","family":"Snapp","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5953-8516","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Suhrud M.","family":"Rajguru","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA"},{"name":"Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33136, USA"},{"name":"RestorEar Devices LLC, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Natasha","family":"Schaefer Solle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (2022, November 15). 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