The importance of hearing conservation instruction.

According to Denehy (1999), "school nurses can play a powerful role in promoting health in their schools and community." She encouraged school nurses to "Take and make opportunities to promote health in the classroom" (p. 4). Classroom presentation of hearing conservation information is one way for school nurses to promote health and to reduce the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), an irreversible yet preventable condition. Because of excessive sound exposure, the prevalence of NIHL among children is increasing. Numerous experts have recommended the implementation of hearing conservation education programs in schools. Despite these recommendations made over the last 3 decades, basic hearing conservation information that could prevent countless cases of NIHL remains conspicuously absent from most school curricula. School nurses should seize this "golden opportunity" to promote health in the classroom and help to reduce the prevalence of NIHL.