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“In Reference to ‘What is the safe noise exposure level to prevent noise-induced hearing loss?’”

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 36, pages 22–23 (2026)Cite this article

I am writing regarding a recently published Comment by Daniel Fink [1]. Fink states that “Approximately 25% of American adults age 20–69 have noise-induced hearing loss” based on an article by Carroll et al. [2]. That article reported that 24% of the studied population had audiometric notches; Fink appears to equate the presence of an audiometric notch with the diagnosis of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). However, as Dobie has noted [3],

“…one cannot diagnose NIHL with certainty based simply on the presence of a notch. As noted above, many notches are spurious.”

“…one cannot diagnose NIHL with certainty based simply on the presence of a notch. As noted above, many notches are spurious.”

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References

  1. Fink DJ. Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-024-00660-3.

  2. Carroll YI, Eichwald J, Scinicariello F, Hoffman HJ, Deitchman S, Radke MS, et al. Vital signs: Noise-induced hearing loss among adults- United States 2011–2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rept. 2017;66:139–44.

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  1. Valor Healthcare, Dallas, Texas, USA

    Robert J. Morris

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  1. Robert J. Morris
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Correspondence to Robert J. Morris.

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Morris, R.J. “In Reference to ‘What is the safe noise exposure level to prevent noise-induced hearing loss?’”. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 36, 22–23 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-024-00733-3

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