Personal listening device usage, leisure noise exposure, hearing protection usage and hearing at standard frequencies: a longitudinal study from child/adolescence to young adulthood.

OBJECTIVE

To compare personal listening device (PLD) listening behaviours, leisure noise exposure, audiometric outcomes, hearing protection (HP) usage and self-reported hearing loss (HL) symptoms at Time 1: 2009/2010 and Time 2: 2022/2023. Mean hearing thresholds (HTs), pure-tone average HL prevalence, PLD volume levels, durations, earbud/headphone tightness, and sex among matched pairs, at Time 1 and 2, were compared.

DESIGN

Longitudinal design. Questionnaire evaluating PLD listening behaviours, leisure noise exposure and HL symptoms. Multivariate regression analysis used to determine relationship between variables and audiometry.

STUDY SAMPLE: 59 Participants, aged 22-30, of original cohort (n = 237, aged 10-17) were re-tested (Time 2).

RESULTS

Over time, tinnitus following leisure noise tripled, HP doubled and higher average PLD listening time was observed (7 vs. 18 h/week); longer durations for males. High volume listening was 20% at both timepoints. Leisure noise exposure and HL prevalence were similar across time, however mean HTs were higher at Time 1. Among matched pairs, more Time 2 participants created tight-fitting earbuds/headphones and responded affirmatively to some HL symptom questions.

CONCLUSIONS

Subtle auditory changes, such as hidden HL, may be occurring over time. Educational outreach regarding HL prevention would be beneficial. Further longitudinal research needed due to the small follow-up sample.