Date of Award
4-21-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Communication Disorders, MCD
First Advisor
Joy Good
Committee Members
Amy Shollenbarger; Nina Crutchfield
Abstract
This study aimed to assess Arkansas farmers’ hearing health, perceptions, and knowledge of noise-induced hearing loss and the use of hearing protection devices. Three questions were formed to outline the primary focus areas of the current study. The following questions are outlined: What is the hearing health of farmers in Arkansas? What are the attitudes of farmers in Arkansas toward noise-induced hearing loss and the use of hearing protection devices? What is the knowledge level of farmers in Arkansas regarding noise levels, noise exposure, and harmful effects of noise-induced hearing loss? Ninety-six Arkansas farmers electronically completed a thirty-question survey on Qualtrics. Results showed that the majority of farmers reported some degree of hearing loss. The overall use of hearing protection devices was low, and most reported not wearing the devices due to inconvenience. While most respondents reported receiving information about the harmful effects of loud noise, their knowledge of noise exposure, hearing loss, long-term effects, and sound levels remained low. The results of this study support the need for educational programs and training regarding noise-induced hearing loss and the use of hearing protection devices.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
phillips, Charlene, "Agricultural Farmers' Perceptions of Farm-Related Noise-Induced Hearing Loss" (2025). Student Theses and Dissertations. 677.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/677
