Abstract
This population-based study estimates the prevalence of loud leisure noise exposure and hearing protection usage among Canadians, as well as the population potentially at-risk using an occupational limit of 85 dBA, LEX 40 h, which denotes a typical occupational noise limit for a 40 hour work week. A total of 10 460 participants, aged 6-79 years, completed a Canadian Health Measures Survey household questionnaire. Loud leisure noise was defined by vocal effort required while communicating at arm's length except for loud personal listening device (PLD) usage with earbuds/headphones, which included both volume setting and vocal effort. The most prevalent loud leisure noise activities were amplified music, car/home stereo listening, and power tools, with 40% reporting each source, followed by sporting/entertainment (25%), gasoline engines (23%), and loud PLD listening (19.5%). Loud leisure noise was more prevalent among 12-39 year olds and males. Hearing protection usage was uncommon, from 44.2% (firearms) to 20.3% (power tools) and below 3% during amplified music and sporting/entertainment events. Calculations using self-reported duration of loud leisure noise activities estimated that 6.6 × 106 Canadians were in the high cumulative noise exposure category. A large proportion of Canadians would be expected to develop some degree of noise-induced hearing loss should this pattern persist over years.
Highlights
The cumulative effect of excessive noise exposure experienced during everyday activities may contribute to noiseinduced hearing loss (NIHL)
The highest hearing protection usage was reported during firearm use (44.2%)
Evaluation of two Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) sampling cycles spanning a period of time between 2012 and 2015 has shown that the most prevalent loud leisure noise activities among Canadians were amplified music, power tools, or listening to loud music without headphones or earbuds
Summary
The cumulative effect of excessive noise exposure experienced during everyday activities may contribute to noiseinduced hearing loss (NIHL). Some studies of young construction or trade workers have reported high prevalence rates of hearing impairment prior to employment (Rabinowitz et al, 2006), leading to the premise that nonoccupational noise exposure may be a significant contributing risk factor (Leensen et al, 2011). Evaluating the prevalence and number of times that individuals engage in loud leisure noise activities can offer insight into the risk to hearing that may be associated with this type of exposure. Studies have shown low hearing protection usage among participants engaging in high noise leisure activities and limited knowledge regarding mitigation strategies (Gilles et al, 2013; Nondahl et al, 2006).
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