Warwick Williams

Noise exposure levels from personal stereo use.

Hearing healthcare professionals often express concern about the possible increased risk of noise injury, and potential for subsequent hearing loss that may result from the rise in the use of personal stereo players (PSP) in the community. Measurements were made of a sample of 55 individuals who were using a PSP as part of their daily activity, for example commuting to work, in what could be considered noisy backgrounds. Thus measurements could be considered to exemplify the worst-case conditions. The average, A-weighted, eight-hour equivalent, continuous noise exposure level was determined to be 79.8 dB, with a statistically significant difference between males and females, of 80.6 dB and 75.3 dB respectively. There was no correlation between self-reported hearing loss and/or the incidence of tinnitus. The noise exposure results obtained did not indicate that there was a significant increase in the risk to potential noise injury from PSP use alone.

Leisure noise exposure: Participation trends, symptoms of hearing damage, and perception of risk

Abstract Objective: Leisure activities that emit high noise levels have the potential to expose participants to excessive noise exposure, which can result in hearing damage. This study investigated young peoples participation in high-noise leisure activities and the relationship between their leisure noise exposure, symptoms of hearing damage, and perception of risk. Design: Participants completed an online survey relating to participation in selected high-noise leisure activities, symptoms of hearing damage, and beliefs about the risk posed by these activities. Study sample: One thousand 18- to 35-year-old Australian adults completed the survey. Results: Annual noise exposure from the five leisure activities ranged from 0–6.77 times the acceptable noise exposure, with nightclubs posing the greatest risk. Those who attended one noisy activity were more likely to attend others, in particular nightclubs, pubs, and live music events. Noise exposure was correlated with early warning signs of hearing damage and perceived risk of damage. Conclusions: Active young adults who engage in noisy activities are showing early signs of hearing damage. Furthermore, they perceive the risk associated with their activities. The challenge for researchers and hearing health practitioners is to convert self-perceived risk into positive hearing health behaviours for long-term hearing health.

The leisure-noise dilemma: hearing loss or hearsay? What does the literature tell us?

The authors undertook a review of the literature, focussing on publications describing the following: (1) Pure tone threshold data for adolescents/young adults; (2) Measurements/estimates of noise exposure from leisure activities; and (3) The relationship between hearing threshold levels (HTLs) and leisure-noise exposure. There is a large volume of published materials relevant to these topics, and opinion among authors regarding the relationship between leisure-noise exposure and HTLs varies significantly. At one extreme is the view that the effects of leisure-noise are minimal. The opposing belief is that as a direct result of leisure-noise exposure, significant HTL shifts and possibly significant hearing disability are occurring in a large (and increasing) proportion of young people. It has been claimed that behaviors relating to leisure-noise are “as threatening to young people’s health as more traditional risk behaviors” (Bohlin & Erlandsson 2007, p. 55). This view has been reiterated by the popular media. This review revealed that while sufficient data confirm that some leisure pursuits provide potentially hazardous noise levels, the nature of the exposure–injury relationship for leisure-noise is yet to be determined. Specific information about the quality-of-life effects of threshold shift related to leisure-noise exposure is also lacking. The scope and limitations of a large sample of relevant publications and an overview of the methodological issues in this area of research are briefly presented. Considerations for future research are raised.

The NOISE (Non-Occupational Incidents, Situations and Events) Database: A new research tool

Abstract This paper describes the development of the NOISE (Non-Occupational Incidents, Situations and Events) Database. The NOISE database currently contains 536 separate leisure activities and events, including noise level measurements, (LAeq and LCpeak), and detailed information about the circumstances of each event. The data are organized into seven categories, in which high-noise events and activities can be identified. Thirty-five percent of events in the database were over 85 dB (the level at which noise is considered a risk according to workplace standards) and 3% were over 100 dB. Fourteen percent of events exceeded the acceptable workplace noise exposure limit of 1.01 Pa2h. The noise exposure levels recorded in the database can be used to identify high-risk leisure activities and to estimate individuals’ leisure noise exposures and make comparisons between leisure and workplace noise exposures.

Hearing threshold levels for a population of 11 to 35 year old Australian females and males

Abstract Objective: Detailed information on the hearing threshold levels (HTLs) of young Australians was gathered as part of a large-scale study of the relationship between HTL and leisure-noise exposure in young Australians. Design: HTL data for the study population (18–35 year olds) was carefully collected, as well as otoscopy, tympanometry, contra-lateral acoustic reflexes, and otoacoustic emissions (transient and distortion product), together with a comprehensive hearing health history – both past and present. Study sample: The sample cohort consisted of 1407 individuals, females and males. Results: Prior to analysis, HTL data were filtered according to both a ‘Low’ and ‘High’ set of exclusion criteria. The results obtained for both high-screen and low-screen datasets were around +5 dB above the traditionally accepted values of audiometric zero. This is consistent with previous published reports. Conclusion: Comparison with ‘ISO 7029 Acoustics: Statistical distribution of hearing thresholds as a function of age’ indicated that threshold values for this dataset have a similar distribution to those of the Standard. This data provides a suitable reference HTL (‘normative’) database for young Australians.

Pure tone hearing thresholds and leisure noise: Is there a relationship?

This paper reports on the examination of the relationship between self-reported historical noise exposure during leisure activities and audiological indicators: Measured hearing threshold levels (HTLs) and otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). The research was conducted by a cross-sectional survey of 1,432 individuals whose ages ranged from 11 years to 35 years. Methodology included a comprehensive audiometric assessment including otoscopy, pure tone audiometry (PTA) (air- and bone-conduction), OAEs, and tympanometry. A comprehensive questionnaire gathered information on demographics, hearing health status, and participation in work, nonwork, and leisure activities. Using the history of work, nonwork, and leisure noise exposure, a cumulative lifetime noise exposure was estimated. No correlation was found between cumulative lifetime noise exposure and audiometric PTA or OAE parameters.

Noise with attitude: influences on young people's decisions to protect their hearing.

Abstract Abstract Objective: To investigate young peoples experiences and attitudes towards hearing health and their participation in noise reduction behaviours, to better understand how education and prevention messages may be better targeted. Design: An online survey was used to investigate participants’ own hearing health, their engagement with noise reduction behaviour, and their beliefs about hearing health and the risk posed by leisure activities. Study sample: Results are presented for 1000 Australian young adults (18–35 years). Results: Most participants reported current good hearing health, although over a fifth showed possible early warning signs of damage. Approximately half of participants took steps to reduce their noise exposure. However, preventative action was not related to hearing loss symptomology, or perceived personal risk of noise-related damage. Participants’ engagement with hearing health was related to beliefs about the risk posed by leisure noise, hearing health awareness, and the importance of hearing. Conclusions: There is a need to further educate young people about the risks posed to hearing by leisure activity participation and factors that may assist improve hearing health. It is important that hearing health messages move past the traditional emphasis on knowledge, and move towards the use of more personalized motivators of noise reduction behaviour.

Changing beliefs about leisure noise: using health promotion models to investigate young people's engagement with, and attitudes towards, hearing health.

Abstract Objective: To investigate factors influencing young peoples motivation to reduce their leisure noise exposure, and protect their hearing health. Design: Questionnaires were conducted online to investigate young peoples hearing health attitudes and behaviour. Items were developed using an integrated health promotion approach. The stage of change model was used to group participants in relation to their engagement with noise reduction behaviour. The health belief model was used to compare each groups perceptions of susceptibility and severity of hearing loss, as well as the benefits and barriers to noise reduction. Study sample: Results are presented for 1196 young Australians aged between 18 and 35 years. Results: Participants’ engagement with noise reduction behaviour was used to assign them to stage of change groupings: Maintenance (11%), Action (28%), Contemplation (14%), or Pre-contemplation (43%). Each groups responses to health belief model items highlighted key differences across the different stages of engagement. Conclusions: Future hearing health promotion may benefit from tailoring intervention activities to best suit the stage of change of individuals. Different information may be useful at each stage to best support and motivate young people to look after their hearing health.

Parent Perceptions of Children's Leisure and the Risk of Damaging Noise Exposure

Abstract The purpose of this study was to survey the attitudes of parents of adolescent children (with, and without, hearing impairment), with the following objectives: (1) compare perceptions of the parent groups regarding the risk of leisure-noise-related hearing injury; and (2) investigate how comfortable parents felt endorsing their childs participation in a range of everyday leisure activities, some which may involve noise exposure. Cross-sectional cohort study. Experimental group — parents of adolescents (aged 13–18 years) with hearing impairment (HI group) n = 53. Control group — parents of age-matched youths with non-impaired/‘normal hearing’ (NH group) n = 70. Rasch modelling was applied to evaluate the internal validity and reliability of the leisure attitudes items. Rasch-generated interval-level data and raw ordinal-level data were used to identify systematic differences between groups. Most parents (HI and NH groups) perceived leisure-noise to be a significant health risk for young people in general, but few perceived their own child to be at high risk. Parents in the HI group were significantly less comfortable overall, and with several specific leisure activities, than parents in the NH group but, conversely, were more comfortable with two activities. Concerns related to a variety of factors. Leisure-time activities provide a major opportunity for children to socialize and they are a crucial part of healthy emotional and physical development. Parent attitudes may influence childrens participation. Parents may benefit from support in identifying and managing concerns about the impact of hearing impairment on their childrens leisure participation.

The mechanical properties of earmuffs

The physical properties of circum-aural hearing protectors, such as mass, clamping force and cup volume, have an influence on the attenuation performance of the device. This paper closely examines the physical and acoustic properties 39 of hearing protectors readily available to all users. The results indicate that attenuation increases with clamping force up to a limiting value of around 11 Newtons above which expected increases in attenuation are very small for large increases in clamping force. Likewise increasing the (newly introduced term) bulk of a hearing protector (volume, mass and cup elements) increases the attenuation but, as with clamping force a limit is reached where increased bulk increases discomfort and wearing difficulty