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Round 2 Topic: Fit Testing of Hearing Protection Devices

Rapid Surveys from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) collect timely, relevant data on topics of public health importance. Surveys are conducted several times a year using probability-based commercial online panels. Each survey includes a unique set of questions about different public health topics. Data collection for Round 2 occurred during October—November 2023.

This page includes estimates in table format. Estimates for fit testing of hearing protection devices includes indicators such as the percentage of adults ages 18 and older who ever used hearing protectors at work, knew that hearing protectors could be fit-tested, and had hearing protectors fit-tested.

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Table 1. Percentage of adults who know that hearing protectors can be fit-tested, ever used hearing protectors, or have had them fit-tested: United States, October—November, 2023
Know that hearing protectors can be fit-tested to ensure proper noise reduction Ever used hearing protectors when exposed to loud noises at work1 Have had hearing protectors fit tested2
Characteristic Percent (95% confidence interval)
Total 37.4 (36.0–38.8) 41.3 (39.6–42.9) 25.1 (22.1–28.3)
Age group
18–44 36.7 (34.4–39.0) 38.7 (36.0–41.5) 28.2 (22.7–34.2)
45–64 41.1 (38.7–43.5) 44.0 (41.3–46.8) 24.4 (20.1–29.1)
65 and older 34.0 (31.6–36.5) 42.6 (39.7–45.6) 20.1 (15.2–25.8)
Gender
Female 29.3 (27.5–31.1) 23.5 (21.5–25.6) 22.9 (17.2–29.5)
Male 45.9 (43.8–48.0) 56.3 (54.0–58.6) 25.7 (22.3–29.3)
Race and Hispanic origin
Hispanic 37.0 (33.2–40.9) 39.8 (35.5–44.2) 29.3 (20.8–39.0)
Black or African American, non-Hispanic 31.5 (27.5–35.7) 28.6 (24.3–33.4) 31.2 (20.6–43.4)
White, non-Hispanic 39.1 (37.5–40.7) 45.6 (43.6–47.6) 23.0 (19.5–26.9)
Other single or multiple races, non-Hispanic 34.9 (29.7–40.3) 32.1 (26.3–38.3) 24.9 (13.5–39.4)
Education
High school degree or GED or less 34.3 (31.8–36.9) 38.8 (35.9–41.7) 28.1 (21.9–34.9)
Some college 39.2 (36.7–41.8) 45.4 (42.4–48.3) 25.3 (20.5–30.5)
Bachelor’s degree or higher 39.3 (37.1–41.5) 40.8 (38.3–43.4) 21.6 (17.3–26.3)
Household income as a percentage of the federal poverty level
Less than 100% FPL 32.7 (28.5–37.0) 31.8 (27.4–36.6) 23.1 (13.8–34.8)
100% to less than 200% FPL 32.6 (29.1–36.2) 38.9 (34.7–43.2) 30.5 (21.6–40.5)
200% and greater FPL 39.5 (37.9–41.1) 43.8 (41.8–45.7) 24.4 (21.0–28.0)
Region
Northeast 34.3 (31.1–37.6) 34.1 (30.2–38.3) 22.3 (15.9–29.8)
Midwest 39.3 (36.5–42.2) 48.3 (44.8–51.7) 25.5 (19.5–32.3)
South 37.6 (35.3–40.1) 39.8 (37.0–42.6) 24.5 (19.8–29.7)
West 37.7 (34.8–40.6) 43.1 (39.7–46.5) 27.1 (20.6–34.4)
Urbanicity
Large central metro 34.7 (32.2–37.2) 33.3 (30.4–36.3) 24.1 (17.8–31.3)
Large fringe metro 37.9 (35.1–40.8) 38.9 (35.6–42.3) 22.1 (16.1–29.1)
Medium and small metro 38.3 (35.8–40.7) 44.4 (41.4–47.4) 27.1 (21.6–33.2)
Nonmetropolitan 40.1 (36.4–43.8) 54.7 (50.2–59.0) 25.6 (19.4–32.7)

1Does not include those who reported never worked around loud noises.
2Among those who ever use hearing protectors at work and who knew they could get fit-tested.

NOTES: GED = general educational development certificate. FPL = federal poverty level. Percentages may not add to totals due to rounding. All estimates shown meet the NCHS standards of reliability. See technical notes for more details.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, Rapid Surveys System, Round 2, October–November, 2023.

Table 2. Percentage of adults who know that hearing protectors can be fit-tested to ensure proper noise reduction, by whether they have ever used hearing protectors at work: United States, October–November, 2023
Ever use hearing protectors at work Don’t ever use hearing protectors at work
Characteristic Percent (95% confidence interval)
Total 57.0 (54.4–59.7) 26.7 (24.7–28.7)
Age group
18–44 56.3 (51.5–61.0) 26.3 (23.2–29.6)
45–64 60.5 (56.4–64.5) 29.8 (26.5–33.3)
65 and older 53.5 (48.8–58.2) 23.3 (20.2–26.7)
Gender
Female 46.3 (41.3–51.4) 24.2 (21.8–26.7)
Male 60.8 (57.7–63.8) 30.3 (27.0–33.7)
Race and Hispanic origin
Hispanic 54.3 (46.8–61.7) 26.0 (21.3–31.2)
Black or African American, non-Hispanic 57.5 (48.3–66.3) 24.2 (19.1–29.9)
White, non-Hispanic 57.6 (54.6–60.6) 27.7 (25.3–30.2)
Other single or multiple races, non-Hispanic 56.2 (44.7–67.3) 26.2 (19.2–34.3)
Education
High school degree or GED or less 54.3 (49.3–59.2) 25.2 (21.9–28.7)
Some college 60.9 (56.4–65.3) 26.1 (22.7–29.8)
Bachelor’s degree or higher 56.5 (52.3–60.6) 29.0 (25.7–32.5)
Household income as a percentage of the federal poverty level
Less than 100% FPL 56.4 (47.9–64.7) 23.7 (18.4–29.6)
100% to less than 200% FPL 46.0 (39.0–53.1) 25.7 (21.0–30.9)
200% and greater FPL 59.7 (56.8–62.6) 27.6 (25.4–30.0)
Region
Northeast 52.0 (43.4–60.5) 25.9 (21.5–30.6)
Midwest 59.0 (54.1–63.8) 23.4 (19.5–27.6)
South 59.1 (54.8–63.3) 27.3 (24.1–30.7)
West 55.2 (49.9–60.3) 28.8 (24.7–33.2)
Urbanicity
Large central metro 52.7 (47.3–58.0) 26.9 (23.4–30.7)
Large fringe metro 58.8 (53.1–64.4) 28.0 (24.0–32.2)
Medium and small metro 57.2 (52.7–61.7) 27.2 (23.7–30.9)
Nonmetropolitan 59.6 (53.7–65.4) 21.6 (16.8–27.1)

NOTES: GED = general educational development certificate. FPL = federal poverty level. The question asking about whether adults ever use hearing protectors at work allowed for respondents to answer that they aren’t exposed to loud noises at work. Estimates are not shown for this category. All estimates shown meet the NCHS standards of reliability. See technical notes for more details.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, Rapid Surveys System, Round 2, October–November, 2023.

Survey Topics

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Technical Notes

See the technical notes [PDF – 68 KB] for more information on these measures.

Limitations

Data collected under the Rapid Surveys System are intended to complement and not replace the current household survey systems at NCHS, including the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The Rapid Surveys approach has a greater potential for coverage and nonresponse bias and smaller sample sizes, thus resulting in lower precision (especially for subgroups). The Rapid Surveys System is particularly well suited for time-sensitive data needs, measuring public health attitudes, developmental work to improve concept measurement, and methodological studies.

Data Source

Rapid Surveys System data are cross-sectional data based on commercial probability-sampled online survey panels that are supplemented, if necessary, with alternative modes to improve representativeness. Data were collected from 7,046 adult participants this cycle using two panels – AmeriSpeak (conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago) and KnowledgePanel (conducted by Ipsos). Estimates shown in this dashboard are based on data collected in Round 2 of Rapid Surveys, occurring during October—November 2023. All estimates shown meet the NCHS Data Presentation Standards for Proportions. Data on fit testing of hearing protection devices were collected on behalf of CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Survey Questions
Suggested Citation

NCHS Rapid Surveys Systems. Fit Testing of Hearing Protection Devices. National Center for Health Statistics. Available from: www.cdc.gov/nchs/rss/round2/fit-testing-hpd.html.