Personal Listening Devices in Australia: Patterns of Use and Levels of Risk

Abstract

Personal listening devices (PLDs) have the potential to increase the risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) for users. The present study aimed to investigate the nature and extent of the risk posed, by describing the user profile of a PLD population, identifying listening habits of that population, and examining whether PLD risk status is associated with hearing damage. A sample of 4,185 Australian PLD users completed an online survey about listening behaviors and hearing health. Listeners were characterized as low, high, or very high-risk based on daily noise dose estimates calculated from self-reported listening volume and durations. Listening patterns and hearing difficulties were examined in relation to risk status. Results indicated differences in listening volumes and durations with respect to age, with higher listening volumes reported for environments with greater background noise. Fifteen percent of participants' usage was classified as posing a potential risk to hearing, with a significantly greater proportion of younger people in higher-risk categories. Forty-one percent of participants reported feeling they have a hearing loss, with ∼20% reporting difficulties with speech in noise. For 18- to 35-year-olds, higher-risk status was associated with a greater proportion of self-reported hearing difficulties, including perceived poorer speech perception. These results have implications for hearing health promotion activities and suggest that messages should focus on either volume levels or durations depending on the particular activity in which the PLD is used. In addition, the results underline the importance of placing PLD exposure in the context of individuals' wider noise exposure. Although PLD use alone is not placing the majority of users at risk, it may be increasing the likelihood that individuals' cumulative noise exposure will exceed safe levels.

Loud Music and Leisure Noise Is a Common Cause of Chronic Hearing Loss, Tinnitus and Hyperacusis

“…Such high music levels are typical when trying to drown out loud background noise [ 163 ]. In ostensibly quieter Australian environments, Gilliver et al [ 168 ] reported that about 10% of PLD users exceeded the NIOSH REL. For Israeli teens, that number was about 25% [ 169 ], while 44% of Canadian teens self-reported loud PLD use [ 81 ].…”

Personal Listening Device Use Habits, Listening Belief, and Perceived Change in Hearing Among Adolescents

“…PLL was measured by asking to select their typical setting on the volume control from 1 to 15 steps while listening to the provided music, and the volume at the setting was converted to dB according to Min's [24] study. For measuring PLL, many researchers assessed it using a self-reported questionnaire because of difficulties while listening to music with earphones [11,25]. However, the validity of self-reported method for PLL measurements has not yet been established, and is unclear how well they reflect actual PLL [21].…”

A Systematic Literature Review of Music Induced Hearing loss

“…Nguyen et al, 2018 [32] Hearing Survey accessible online open to all Australians residents over the age of 15 yrs.…”