Hearing and leisure noise

This presentation reports on the examination of the relationship between self-reported noise exposure during leisure activities and audiological indicators: including measured hearing threshold levels (HTL) and tinnitus. The research was conducted by cross sectional survey of 1432 individuals from 11 to 35 years old. Methodology included of a full audiometric assessment including otoscopy, pure tone audiometry (PTA) (air-and bone-conduction), otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and tympanometry. A comprehensive questionnaire gathered information on demographics, hearing health status and participation in work, non-work and leisure activities. Using the history of work, non-work and leisure noise exposure a cumulative life time noise exposure was estimated. No correlation was found between cumulative life time noise exposure and audiometric PTA or OAE parameters. However, tinnitus was found to frequently occur at what would be considered as low exposure levels.