PEDIATRICS Vol. 117 No. 1 January 2006, pp. 248-249 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-1702)
LETTER TO THE EDITOR |
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Young People
Robert L. Folmer, PhDDepartment of Otolaryngology
Oregon Health and Science University
Portland, OR 97239
To the Editor.—
The excellent article by Chung et al1 concluded that 61% of the young people who responded to their Web-based survey experienced tinnitus or hearing loss as a result of attending loud music concerts. Also, 43% of the respondents experienced these auditory symptoms after exposure to loud music in clubs. However, only 14% of the respondents ever wore ear plugs at a venue in which loud music was played. Fortunately, a majority of the respondents (66%) could be motivated to try hearing protection if they knew that limited exposure to very loud music can permanently damage hearing. Most respondents (59%) were also more likely to use ear plugs if a doctor or nurse recommended hearing protection.
The study highlights the following facts about noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and hearing-loss prevention: (1) young people are often exposed to hazardous levels of sound (in addition to loud music, such levels can be produced by, eg, power tools, gunfire, loud machinery, or engines); (2) exposure to excessively loud sounds can result in hearing loss and tinnitus; (3) people are often unaware of the consequences of excessive sound exposure; and (4) when people become aware of these consequences, they are more willing to take steps to protect themselves against NIHL and tinnitus.
Colleagues and I agree with numerous experts that, over the last 30 years, have recommended the implementation of hearing-loss–prevention education in schools.2,3 Unfortunately, basic hearing-conservation information (which could prevent many cases of NIHL) remains conspicuously absent from most school curricula. We identified the following reasons for this omission: (1) lack of public awareness about how excessive sound exposure damages hearing and the consequences of hearing loss; (2) lack of effective dissemination of existing hearing-conservation programs, curricula, and materials; and (3) lack of a mandate from local and state school boards and state or federal health agencies.
Healthy People 20104 lists the following objectives for hearing: "Increase the use of appropriate ear protection devices, equipment, and practices; reduce noise-induced hearing loss in children and adolescents aged 17 years and under; reduce adult hearing loss in the noise-exposed public." A public health campaign should be waged to accomplish these objectives. A good place to start would be for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to add NIHL to its list of "important health topics" within its Healthy Youth! program.5 This would facilitate implementation of hearing-loss–prevention education in our nation's schools. Eventually, such programs would help to reduce the prevalence of NIHL, a potentially debilitating condition that is almost entirely preventable.6
REFERENCES
- Chung JH, Des Roches CM, Meunier J, Eavey RD. Evaluation of noise-induced hearing loss in young people using a Web-based survey technique. Pediatrics. 2005;115
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[Abstract/Free Full Text] - Folmer RL, Griest SE, Martin WH. Hearing conservation education programs for children: a review. J Sch Health. 2002;72 :51 –57[Web of Science][Medline]
- Folmer RL. Why aren't hearing conservation practices taught in schools? 2004. Available at: www.healthyhearing.com/library/article_content.asp?article_id=151. Accessed October 29, 2005
- US Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2010. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office; 2000. Available at: www.healthypeople.gov. Accessed October 29, 2005
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Healthy Youth! Health topics. 2005. Available at: www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/healthtopics/index.htm. Accessed October 29, 2005
- Dobie RA. Prevention of noise-induced hearing loss.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1995;121
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[Abstract/Free Full Text]
PEDIATRICS (ISSN 1098-4275). ©2006 by the American Academy of Pediatrics
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- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Young People: In Reply
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Pediatrics 2006 117: 249.[Extract] [Full Text]
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