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Research Article
August 2014

Cultural and Demographic Factors Influencing Noise Exposure Estimates From Use of Portable Listening Devices in an Urban Environment

Publication: Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume 57, Number 4
Pages 1535-1547

Abstract

Purpose

This study examined listening levels and duration of portable listening devices (PLDs) used by people with diversity of ethnicity, education, music genre, and PLD manufacturer. The goal was to estimate participants’ PLD noise exposure and identify factors influencing user behavior.

Method

This study measured listening levels of 160 adults in 2 New York City locations: (a) a quiet college campus and (b) Union Square, a busy interchange. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding demographics and PLD use. Ordinary least squares regression was used to explore the significance of demographic and behavioral factors.

Results

Average listening level was 94.1 dBA, with 99 of 160 (61.9%) and 92 of 159 (57.5%) exceeding daily (LA8hn) and weekly (LAwkn) recommended exposure limit, respectively. African American participants listened at the highest average levels (99.8 dBA).

Conclusions

A majority of PLD users exceeded recommended exposure levels. Factors significant for higher exposure were ethnicity and age; factors not significantly associated with exposure were gender, education, location, awareness of possible association between PLD use and noise-induced hearing loss, mode of transportation, device manufacturer, and music genre. Efforts to effect behavior changes to lessen noise-induced hearing loss risk from PLD use should be sensitive to the cultural differences within the targeted population.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume 57Number 4August 2014
Pages: 1535-1547
PubMed: 24686749

History

  • Received: Dec 31, 2012
  • Revised: Jun 10, 2013
  • Accepted: Jan 1, 2014
  • Published in issue: Aug 1, 2014

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Key Words

  1. noise-induced hearing loss
  2. portable listening devices
  3. cultural differences

Authors

Affiliations

Brian J. Fligor
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Sandra Levey
Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY
Tania Levey
York College, City University of New York, Jamaica, NY

Notes

Disclosure: The authors have declared that no competing interests existed at the time of publication.
Correspondence to Brian J. Fligor: [email protected]
Editor: Craig Champlin
Associate Editor: Marjorie Leek

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