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One in eight Americans have hearing loss, depending on where they live and work, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hearing loss was more prevalent among men, Hispanic people and rural residents. After mining, working in retail or restaurants were the two occupations tied most closely to hearing loss.
West Virginia, Alaska, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Arizona had the highest rates of hearing loss; the District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and Connecticut had the lowest. Noise in big cities appeared to be less harmful than a rural life spent working outdoors with heavy machinery, riding ATVs or hunting with firearms, reported STAT.
