What can increase an employee's risk for hearing loss besides exposure to noise?

Consuming ototoxic medications is a significant factor that can increase an employee's risk for hearing loss beyond exposure to noise. Ototoxic medications are drugs that can potentially harm the inner ear structures, leading to auditory deficits. Common examples of these medications include certain antibiotics, cancer treatments, and diuretics, which can damage the hair cells in the cochlea responsible for hearing. Such medications can interact with existing noise exposure, compounding the risk of hearing loss.

While wearing protective gear, taking hearing tests, and using headphones at work can influence hearing health, they do not inherently increase the risk of hearing loss when used appropriately. Protective gear is designed to mitigate the risks associated with noise exposure, hearing tests help monitor hearing health, and using headphones, depending on volume and duration, can have varying impacts, but they are not classified as risk factors in the same way ototoxic medications are.