The National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) has issued a call for papers to be presented at the group’s 37th annual meeting, to be held February 23-25, 2012, at the Astor Crowne Plaza in New Orleans.

The theme of the conference: "The Cultures of Hearing Loss Prevention."

The deadline to submit: Friday, July 29, 2011.

Both printable and electronic applications are accepted. If you choose to select the printable application, all submissions must be submitted to NHCA as a Word document and not a PDF.

Visit NHCA’s web site at www.hearingconservation.org for more information.

You can also contact NHCA at 3030 W. 81st Avenue. Westminster, CO 80031; phone: 303-224-9022; fax: 303-458-0002.

NHCA was formed in June of 1976, at that time designated as the Hearing Conservation Association, and incorporated in the state of Florida on July 8, 1976. The organization changed its name to the National Hearing Conservation Association in 1981. The founders of NHCA were mainly audiologists and otolaryngologists who were concerned with the serious problem of noise-induced hearing impairment resulting from occupational exposure to noise. The association was created to provide a forum where others of similar persuasion could share information and gain increased insights regarding occupational hearing conservation.

Today the NHCA is comprised of hundreds of audiologists, engineers, industrial hygienists, safety professionals, physicians, nurses and others.

The mission of the NHCA is to prevent hearing loss due to noise and other environmental factors in all sectors of society. The association strives to accomplish this mission through a variety of strategies, including:

1. To provide professional development by improving the skills, practices, and services of the members of the association,
2. To provide education and encourage research in noise and hearing conservation,
3. To stimulate the exchange of information among those involved with hearing conservation, disseminate information to professionals and others, and to provide a resource center for those inquiring about the prevention of hearing loss due to noise and other environmental factors,
4. To promote the development of improved and more effective occupational hearing conservation programs,
5. To develop guidelines and monitor and participate in standards, regulatory, and legislative activity, and
6. To advance the role and position of NHCA members as providers of hearing conservation services.
7. To increase communication among members.