Part I: Factors influencing professional functioning 57 Introduction Hearing loss is a common condition in the working population, with higher prevalence with higher age and in populations that are exposed to occupational noise (Hasson et al., 2010; Masterson et al., 2016; May, 2000; Nelson et al., 2005). In the last decades, there has been an increasing interest in the impact of hearing loss on work functioning (Danermark & Gellerstedt, 2004; Hasson et al., 2011; Kramer et al., 2006; Punch, 2016; Van der Hoek-Snieders et al., 2020). Even with mild hearing loss, the performance of auditory job tasks may take significantly more Listening Effort (LE), especially in noisy work environments (Kramer et al., 2006; Nachtegaal et al., 2009). Sustained, effortful listening can be fatiguing and is associated with higher Need For Recovery (NFR) after work (Van der Hoek-Snieders et al., 2020). In line with earlier studies that indicate that high NFR is a predictor of negative work implications (De Croon et al., 2003; Sluiter et al., 2003), hearing loss has been found to hinder work participation. Some job tasks cannot be performed safely and effectively without sufficient hearing, which is for example the case in pilots, fire fighters, and locomotive engineers (Tufts et al., 2009). In these, but also in other occupations, work participation can also be under pressure when hearing loss is present. Hearing loss has been shown to be associated with reduced work productivity, higher levels of sickness leave due to mental distress, unemployment, and earlier retirement (Danermark &Gellerstedt, 2004; Hasson et al., 2011; Kramer et al., 2006; Punch, 2016; Svinndal et al., 2018). In some workplaces, occupational hearing screening is applied to detect hearing loss in an early stage (Leensen et al., 2011). This serves several purposes. Occupational hearing screening canbeused toensure that employees canperformessential hearingcritical job tasks safely and effectively (Tufts et al., 2009). Also, noise-induced hearing loss is preventable, and occupational hearing screening can contribute to take preventive measures (Leensen et al., 2011). In the Netherlands, occupational hearing screening is routinely offered to employees that work in workplaces with noise levels above 85 dBA. Lastly, occupational hearing screening can stimulate employees to seek audiological help (Smits et al., 2004; Smits et al., 2006), before they experience listening difficulties or other difficulties at work. Several hearing tests have been proposed for screening purposes. Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) objectively measure the outer hair cell function, pure-tone
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