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 57 • Number 4 • August 2014
Pages: 1535-1547
PubMed: 24686749
Copyright
Copyright © 2014 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
History
- Received: Dec 31, 2012
- Revised: Jun 10, 2013
- Accepted: Jan 1, 2014
- Published in issue: Aug 1, 2014
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