ABSTRACT
Hearing loss due to occupational noise exposure is our most prevalent industrial malady
and has been recognized since the Industrial Revolution. There are millions of employ-
ees with occupational hearing loss in industry. Our neglect of hearing loss, especially
occupational hearing loss, has resulted in human and economic consequences that affect
virtually every household in industrialized countries. This is especially regrettable
since noise-induced hearing loss is almost always preventable at relatively little cost.
