Epidemiology of the extent of recreational noise exposure and hearing protection use: cross-sectional survey in a nation
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Open Access
Epidemiology of the extent of recreational noise exposure and hearing protection use: cross-sectional survey in a nationally representative UK adult population sample Christopher J. Armitage1,2* , Michael T. Loughran1,3 and Kevin J. Munro2,3
Abstract Background: Hearing loss is prevalent and disabling, yet little is known about the extent of recreational noise exposure and hearing protection use. The aim of the present research was to estimate the extent of recreational noise exposure and hearing protection use in a sample representative of the UK adult population. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 10,401 UK adults who were representative of the population. Results: More than 7000 people (n = 7590, 73.0%) reported exposure to recreational noise excluding headphone and earphone use in the last 12 months. Just 158 people (2.1%) reported wearing hearing protection for every noisy recreational activity. Age (younger people) and beliefs of a behavioral (as opposed to genetic) cause of hearing loss were predictive of both higher recreational noise exposure and greater hearing protection use. Men were more exposed to recreational noise but women were less likely to use hearing protection. Conclusions: For the first time, the present research quantifies the recreational noise exposure and low levels of hearing protection use in a representative sample of the UK population. The biggest public health gains are likely to be achieved through interventions targeted at younger people and in explaining behavioral (as opposed to genetic) causes of hearing loss. Keywords: Hearing loss, Hearing protection, Prevalence
Background Hearing loss is ranked 4th globally in years lived with a disability, with older age and noise exposure being the biggest risk factors [1]. Approximately one billion teenagers and young adults (12–35 years) are at risk of noise-induced hearing loss due to hazardous recreational listening behaviors [1]. These behaviors include attendance at live music venues (nightclubs, festivals, concerts * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK 2 Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PL, UK Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
and bars), practising/producing music, DIY, engine noise and sports related noise [2–6]. In many instances, the risks of recreational noise exposure can be reduced through the use of hearing protection devices (earplugs and earmuffs). Numerous studies have tried to estimate recreational noise exposure and hearing protection uptake (e.g., use of earplugs and/or earmuffs), but have typically been limited to convenience [7–13] or regional samples [14–17] resulting in estimates of exposure and protection use ranging between 9 and 51%, and 2–61%, respectively. We were able to identify one study [18] that attempted to assess the preval
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