Epidemiology of the extent of recreational noise exposure and hearing protection use: cross-sectional survey in a nationally representative UK adult population sample.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hearing loss is prevalent and disabling, yet little is known about the extent of recreational noise exposure and hearing protection use. The aim of the present research was to estimate the extent of recreational noise exposure and hearing protection use in a sample representative of the UK adult population.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 10,401 UK adults who were representative of the population.

Results

More than 7000 people (n = 7590, 73.0%) reported exposure to recreational noise excluding headphone and earphone use in the last 12 months. Just 158 people (2.1%) reported wearing hearing protection for every noisy recreational activity. Age (younger people) and beliefs of a behavioral (as opposed to genetic) cause of hearing loss were pre

SUBMITTER: Armitage CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7547427 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature