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Binge Listening Is exposure to leisure noise causing hearing loss in young Australians?. Harvey Dillon, Warwick Williams, Megan Gilliver, Elizabeth Beach. Noise. Work-related hearing loss. Work-related hearing loss. Work-related hearing loss. Leisure-related hearing loss.
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Binge ListeningIs exposure to leisure noise causing hearing loss in young Australians? Harvey Dillon, Warwick Williams, Megan Gilliver, Elizabeth Beach
Noise Work-related hearing loss Work-related hearing loss Work-related hearing loss Leisure-related hearing loss Leisure-related hearing loss Leisure-related hearing loss Leisure-related hearing loss Work-related hearing loss Noise-induced hearing loss
Overview • Australian Hearing on-line survey of 1000 people aged 18 to 35 • Dosimeter measurements at various leisure activities • Measurements of actual noise exposure from MP3 players
A crash course in NOISE
Noise levels in leisure activities Average noise level (dB)
Leisure noise exposure on a typical night out Noise level: 100 dB for 4 hours = 16 ADEs 114 dB Enter Club B 106 dB Enter Club A89 dB 85 dB Enter Club C 104 dB 64 dB 9:34pm 1:42am
Risky activities • Risk • Loudness • Exposure time (how long, how often) • How many people • Mixing many high risk activities
Life-time noise exposure • Activities change over life • So noise/sound exposure changes • Noise injury due to noise exposure is cumulative over the life-time • Using a ‘noise exposure profile’ can highlight the most significant noise sources for typical individuals • Prevention activities can be better targeted
Sound exposure profile over a life-time Sound exposures add up! 42-year old with accumulated noise-exposure of a 60 year-old Williams, 2008
93 dB Sporting event 83 dB Gym with music 84 dB Concert 92 dB Pub/club 97 dB Night-club / dance venue
Personal stereo players (PSP) • Long term study • Average level (LAeq) 84 dB • Average use per day ~2:20 h:m • Average exposure (LAeq,8h) 78 dB • Users potentially at risk 23% • Users seriously at risk ~4%
MP3 exposure levels 2003 2006 2009
13% get more than one year’s max acceptable noise dose each year Total annual leisure exposure (5 activities) 747
24% get more than one year’s max acceptable noise dose each year Total annual leisure exposure (MP3 use)
+ 43% get more than one year’s max acceptable noise dose each year Total annual leisure exposure (MP3 use)
Do noise-exposed people perceive the risk to their hearing from leisure noise?
Do noise-exposed people perceive the risk to their hearing from MP3 exposure?
Do noise-exposed people perceive the risk to their hearing from leisure sound exposure?
Stages of Change 14% 48% 39%
Conclusions - Exposure • Most people enjoy leisure activities safely • Clubbing and MP3 use both impart dangerous noise doses to a small proportion of young people • Those with the greatest noise exposure report the greatest number of hearing loss symptoms • Exposure diminishes with age over the range 18 to 35 years • Life-time risk depends on years of exposure, and work-related exposure • MP3 exposure (per person) may be dropping over time
Conclusions - Awareness • There is widespread awareness that excessive sound causes hearing loss, but: • Over 20% of those with high leisure noise exposure think they personally have little or no risk, even if they know there is a general link • More than 1/3 of people don’t realise that sound-induced hearing loss is permanent.
Acknowledgments • Hearing loss prevention program, Office of Hearing Services, Department of Health and Ageing • Australian Hearing, Marketing and Communication team • The Hearing CRC