Abstract
BackgroundHearing 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.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of 10,401 UK adults who were representative of the population.ResultsMore 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.ConclusionsFor 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.
Highlights
Hearing loss is prevalent and disabling, yet little is known about the extent of recreational noise exposure and hearing protection use
Without knowledge of the extent to which the general public are exposed to recreational noise and what is the prevalence of hearing protection device use, it will be difficult to develop interventions to reduce the health costs that might arise in the future nor what interventions might promote use of hearing protection
We examined potential correlates of recreational noise exposure and hearing protection use, in addition to sociodemographic variables and clinical characteristics, we considered beliefs about whether hearing loss is caused by genetics or health behaviors [19] to see whether public perceptions may need to be changed as well
Summary
Hearing loss is prevalent and disabling, yet little is known about the extent of recreational noise exposure and hearing protection use. 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 We were able to identify one study [18] that attempted to assess the prevalence of recreational noise exposure and use of Armitage et al BMC Public Health (2020) 20:1529 hearing protection in a nationally representative sample of 18–35 year olds but their final sample included 76% women and was not nationally representative, even ignoring the limited age range. The aims of the present research are, for the first time in a representative sample of the UK adult population, to: (a) assess the extent of recreational noise exposure, and (b) assess hearing protection use
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