Knut Dehnert1, Ulla Raab1,2, Carmelo Perez-Alvarez3, Thomas Steffens3, Gabriele Bolte1,4, Hermann Fromme5, Dorothee Twardella1. 1. a * Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Epidemiology , Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority , Munich , Germany. 2. b Centre of Prevention and Health Promotion, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority , Munich , Germany. 3. c Department of Otorhinolaryngology , University Hospital Regensburg , Germany. 4. d Department of Social Epidemiology , Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen , Germany. 5. e Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology , Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority , Munich , Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate total leisure noise exposure among adolescents and to assess its association with hearing. DESIGN: Based on self-reported time spent on 19 leisure activities and associated mean sound pressure levels reported in the literature, total leisure noise exposure was evaluated and compared to noise at work limits (> 85 dB(A) = hazardous) in a cross-sectional survey. Tympanometry and pure-tone audiometry was performed in sound isolated rooms. STUDY SAMPLE: The study sample consists of 2143 pupils attending grade nine in any school in a German city 2009-2011 (mean age: 15.4 years; range: 13-19 years). Audiometric data were available for 1837 (85.8%) pupils (53.9% girls). RESULTS: 41.9% of the 2143 adolescents who had provided self-reported data on leisure activities associated with noise exposure were estimated to be hazardously exposed to leisure time noise. The interaction of gender with total leisure time noise exposure was not significant. No association between leisure time noise exposure and audiometric notches could be detected. CONCLUSION: While hearing loss seems seldom in this age group, a high proportion of adolescents aged 15-16 years are exposed to noise levels during leisure time bearing long-term risks of hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate total leisure noise exposure among adolescents and to assess its association with hearing. DESIGN: Based on self-reported time spent on 19 leisure activities and associated mean sound pressure levels reported in the literature, total leisure noise exposure was evaluated and compared to noise at work limits (> 85 dB(A) = hazardous) in a cross-sectional survey. Tympanometry and pure-tone audiometry was performed in sound isolated rooms. STUDY SAMPLE: The study sample consists of 2143 pupils attending grade nine in any school in a German city 2009-2011 (mean age: 15.4 years; range: 13-19 years). Audiometric data were available for 1837 (85.8%) pupils (53.9% girls). RESULTS: 41.9% of the 2143 adolescents who had provided self-reported data on leisure activities associated with noise exposure were estimated to be hazardously exposed to leisure time noise. The interaction of gender with total leisure time noise exposure was not significant. No association between leisure time noise exposure and audiometric notches could be detected. CONCLUSION: While hearing loss seems seldom in this age group, a high proportion of adolescents aged 15-16 years are exposed to noise levels during leisure time bearing long-term risks of hearing loss.
Authors: Carlijn M P le Clercq; André Goedegebure; Vincent W V Jaddoe; Hein Raat; Robert J Baatenburg de Jong; Marc P van der Schroeff Journal: JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2018-08-01 Impact factor: 6.223
Authors: Wenjia Wei; Stefanie Heinze; Doris G Gerstner; Sandra M Walser; Dorothee Twardella; Christina Reiter; Veronika Weilnhammer; Carmelo Perez-Alvarez; Thomas Steffens; Caroline E W Herr Journal: Noise Health Date: 2017 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 0.867