The Relationship Between Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Awareness and the Use of Personal Listening Devices in Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

IntroductionNoise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most common avoidable reasons for hearing impairment worldwide. Work-related, genetic, infectious, and environmental factors all have a part in defining the level of hearing impairment. Nevertheless, the use of personal listening devices (PLDs) is popular nowadays, particularly among younger people. Healthy behaviors are needed to prevent them from developing hearing loss. Our objective is to evaluate the knowledge level of NIHL among the people of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and understand its association with PLDs. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was performed in December 2022 by sending an online survey on various social media applications. An electronic Arabic questionnaire with a total of 37 questions was designed to explore the participants' demographic data, history of hearing loss, risk factors, attitudes, and awareness of NIHL. ResultsAlmost 22% of the study had mild-to-severe hearing impairment. Hearing issues were especially common among male individuals. A higher incidence of hearing impairments was seen in individuals who were utilizing a sound degree of more than 80%. The causes for NIHL comprised exposure to occupational noise, duration of the listening session per day, and the level to which the sound of the television or the broadcasting was raised. Approximately 77% of the participants preferred to reduce the sound of their personal audio devices (PADs) to prevent NIHL. ConclusionAccording to this study, there is a high prevalence of hearing problems in the Saudi population. Most of the respondents understood the risk factors linked to NIHL. There is a need for more NIHL awareness campaigns to educate the Saudi population and reinforce positive, healthy listening habits.

Awareness About the Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) and Its Relation to Headphones Use at al Jouf Region, Northern Saudi Arabia

“…Additionally, the findings emphasize the critical role of education in dispelling misconceptions, with a notable proportion, 21.5%, unsure whether frequent exposure to hazardous noise leads to hearing loss due to a damaged eardrum. On the other hand, another study conducted by Faisal Alzahrani et.al [23] revealed that 87.2% understood that high sound degrees could harmfully impact their hearing. This is in agreement with the survey carried out in Saudi Arabia [24].…”

Cross-sectional study on the health of workers exposed to occupational noise in China

“…Prolonged exposure to noise can lead to excessive stimulation of inner ear hair cells, resulting in structural damage and the consequent attenuation and distortion of incoming auditory stimuli, which is one of the main reasons for hearing loss [ 9 , 10 ]. Noise is also related to cardiovascular disease, and the association can be explained by the biochemical changes related to the mechanisms of stress, in brief, an increase in the level of hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline in response to the stress caused by noise can result in peripheral vasoconstriction, increased heart rate, and increased arterial blood pressure (BP) [ 11 ].…”