Medical experts say hearing loss is a growing health problem. Estimates from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services show that the numbers of residents with hearing loss will more than double in the next 20 years.

“Because hearing loss is so prevalent and can impact one’s health and independence, it raises public health and economic concerns. However opportunities exist to address these concerns,” state officials say.

As a result, North Carolina Farm Bureau is assisting the University of Michigan with a project in hopes of curtailing those concerns within the agriculture community.

Farm Bureau is looking for members to participate in “Hear on the Farm,” a project that involves answering an online questionnaire about being exposed to noise in production agriculture.

“As a farmer, you are likely already aware that many farmers experience hearing loss due to their exposure to loud noises at work,” says Marjorie C. McCullagh, director of the Occupational Health Nursing Program at the University of Michigan School of Nursing.

“In addition to problems with communication, hearing loss is also associated with tinnitus (ringing in the ears), social isolation, low selfesteem, and depression. However, unlike workers in other industries, farmers lack the resources to protect their hearing, such as work-based hearing conservation programs,” McCullagh says. “The goal of this project
is to develop effective programs to protect farmers’ hearing.”

Here is how Farm Bureau members can participate:

• Visit www.hearonthefarm.org.
• Enter your email address and access code “saveears”
• Next, participants answer simple eligibility questions, which include the ability to read and write in English and being at least 18 years old.
• Information about your rights as a research participant is then displayed and you are presented with the opportunity to indicate that you agree to the terms of the study.
• You will then find questions that are expected to take 5 to 10 minutes to answer. The questions are about your noise exposure and use of hearing protection. After that, you will be assigned at random to one of five study groups.
• Some participants will be directed to an opportunity to learn more about noise on the farm and hearing protection. At that point, you are eligible for the first incentive of $10.
• After six months and again after 12 months, at the end of your participation, you will receive an email message asking you to complete a questionnaire.

Along with the website, members can find out more details about the project by contacting your NCFB field representative. McCullagh hopes to have North Carolina participants enrolled by the end of March. “This study represents a rare opportunity to provide a valuable service to Farm Bureau members, support your state safety program and contribute to the development of a program to improve the health and safety of farmers,” McCullagh says.