Personal listening device usage, leisure noise exposure, hearing protection usage and hearing at standard frequencies: a longitudinal study from child/adolescence to young adulthood

OBJECTIVE: To compare personal listening device (PLD) listening behaviours, leisure noise exposure, audiometric outcomes, hearing protection (HP) usage and self-reported hearing loss (HL) symptoms at Time 1: 2009/2010 and Time 2: 2022/2023. Mean hearing thresholds (HTs), pure-tone average HL prevalence, PLD volume levels, durations, earbud/headphone tightness, and sex among matched pairs, at Time 1 and 2, were compared. DESIGN: Longitudinal design. Questionnaire evaluating PLD listening behaviours, leisure noise exposure and HL symptoms. Multivariate regression analysis used to determine relationship between variables and audiometry. STUDY SAMPLE: = 237, aged 10-17) were re-tested (Time 2). RESULTS: Over time, tinnitus following leisure noise tripled, HP doubled and higher average PLD listening time was observed (7 vs. 18 h/week); longer durations for males. High volume listening was 20% at both timepoints. Leisure noise exposure and HL prevalence were similar across time, however mean HTs were higher at Time 1. Among matched pairs, more Time 2 participants created tight-fitting earbuds/headphones and responded affirmatively to some HL symptom questions. CONCLUSIONS: Subtle auditory changes, such as hidden HL, may be occurring over time. Educational outreach regarding HL prevention would be beneficial. Further longitudinal research needed due to the small follow-up sample.