Evaluating auditory perception and communication demands required
to carry out work tasks and complimentary hearing resources and skills for
older workers with hearing loss
Issue title: Biomechanics and Evaluating the Workplace
Affiliations: National Centre for Audiology, Faculty of Health
Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada | School of Communication Sciences and Disorders,
Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario,
Canada | Graduate Program in Health and Rehabilitation
Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario,
London, Ontario, Canada | School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health
Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Mary Beth Jennings, National Centre
for Audiology, The University of Western Ontario, Elborn College, 1201 Western
Road, London, Ontario, Canada, N6G 1H1. E-mail: jennings@nca.uwo.ca
Abstract: For older workers with acquired hearing loss, this loss as well as
the changing nature of work and the workforce, may lead to difficulties and
disadvantages in obtaining and maintaining employment. Currently there are very
few instruments that can assist workplaces, employers and workers to prepare
for older workers with hearing loss or with the evaluation of auditory
perception demands of work, especially those relevant to communication, and
safety sensitive workplaces that require high levels of communication. This
paper introduces key theoretical considerations that informed the development
of a new framework, The Audiologic Ergonomic (AE) Framework to guide
audiologists, work rehabilitation professionals and workers in developing tools
to support the identification and evaluation of auditory perception demands in
the workplace, the challenges to communication and the subsequent productivity
and safety in the performance of work duties by older workers with hearing
loss. The theoretical concepts underpinning this framework are discussed along
with next steps in developing tools such as the Canadian Hearing Demands Tool
(C-HearD Tool) in advancing approaches to evaluate auditory perception and
communication demands in the workplace.
