The influence of ambient noise and headphone style on listening volume using a personal stereo system

Abstract

It is well known that exposure to excessive noise for long durations can cause a significant noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Although most research has focused on occupational sources of NIHL, there is growing concern about the potential damage caused by non-occupational noise exposure such as that from portable stereo system headphones. The purpose of current study was to measure the sound level generated by headphones of portable stereo system, and provide hearing conservation guidelines. Using a B&K Torso and a personal computer, output sound levels across volume control set by thirty participants were measured from headphone driven by music samples of five different genres. Three different styles of headphones (in-ear, circum-aural, supra-aural) were used to determine if styles of headphone influence sound level inside of ears. The study results suggested that the supra-aural headphone used by listener in noisy environment shall set a higher volume, in a result of a larger sound level in eardrum. The authors would like to thank the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health of Taiwan for the support that made the completion of this work possible.