Epidemiology of Noise-Induced Tinnitus and the Attitudes and Beliefs towards Noise and Hearing Protection in Adolescents

Abstract

Background and objectivesPrevious research showed an increase of noise-induced symptoms in adolescents. Permanent tinnitus as a consequence of loud music exposure is usually considered as noise-induced damage. The objective was to perform an epidemiological study in order to obtain prevalence data of permanent noise-induced tinnitus as well as temporary tinnitus following noise exposure in a young population. In addition the attitudes and beliefs towards noise and hearing protection were evaluated in order to explain the use/non-use of hearing protection in a young population.MethodsA questionnaire was completed by 3892 high school students (mean age: 16.64 years old, SD: 1.29 years). The prevalence of temporary and permanent tinnitus was assessed. In addition the ‘Youth Attitudes to Noise Scale’ and the ‘Beliefs About Hearing Protection and Hearing Loss’ were used in order to assess the attitudes and beliefs towards noise and hearing protection respectively.ResultsThe prevalence of temporary noise-induced tinnitus and permanent tinnitus in high school students was respectively 74.9% and 18.3%. An increasing prevalence of temporary tinnitus with age was present. Most students had a ‘neutral attitude’ towards loud music and the use of hearing protection was minimal (4.7%). The limited use of hearing protection is explained by a logistic regression analysis showing the relations between certain parameters and the use of hearing protection.ConclusionsDespite the very high prevalence of tinnitus in such a young population, the rate of hearing protection use and the knowledge about the risks of loud music is extremely low. Future preventive campaigns should focus more on tinnitus as a warning signal for noise-induced damage and emphasize that also temporary symptoms can result in permanent noise-induced damage.

Tinnitus in adolescents and its relation to the use of personal sound systems

“…Although, depending on the methodology used, the numbers of spontaneous tinnitus in studies involving adolescents have varied from 7.5% 20 to 74.9% 4 , the prevalence observed in our sample, 40% of PSS users and 33% among non-PSS users, coincides with most studies which varied from 35% to 38.4% 16,21 . It is noteworthy that although more prevalent in the exposed group, by Chi-squared test, at a significance level of 0.05, showed no significant difference was observed in the presence of tinnitus related to PSS use, in opposition to results demonstrated by other authors 22 .…”

“…Worldwide prevalence statistics indicate that 10% to 20% of the population exhibits the symptom 2,3 , and although there is positive relationship with age, the number of adolescents who have experienced at least one episode of temporary tinnitus induced by high sound pressure levels (SPL) reaches almost 75% in some samples 4 . The concern about the habits and attitudes related to recreational exposure to high SPL has been growing in the world, including the creation of normative characteristics for legislating personal sound systems (PSS) in European Union countries 5 .…”

Hearing Risk among Young Personal Listening Device Users: Effects at High-Frequency and Extended High- Frequency Audiogram Thresholds

“…NIHL is an accumulative process, and it is possible for the early effects at EHFs in these subjects to progress into a more severe hearing loss that extends to lower frequencies after many years of music exposure [8] . In addition, subtle hearing damage from excessive music exposures could also have an additive effect on age-related hearing loss [24] and may contribute to the development of permanent tinnitus or hyperacusis in the later part of one's life [25] .…”

Tinnitus Suppression by Intracochlear Electrical Stimulation in Single-Sided Deafness: A Prospective Clinical Trial - Part I

“…The estimated prevalence in the general population is about 10-15% [Langguth et al, 2013] and is expected to increase in the future [Nondahl et al, 2012;Gilles et al, 2013]. Tinnitus can be extremely bothersome, which may lead to depression and serious problems in daily life [Turner et al, 2007].…”