Output capabilities of personal music players and assessment of preferred listening levels of test subjects: Outlining recommendations for preventing music-induced hearing loss

2012 ◽  
Vol 122 (11) ◽  
pp. 2549-2556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayo A. Breinbauer ◽  
Jose L. Anabalón ◽  
Daniela Gutierrez ◽  
Rodrigo Cárcamo ◽  
Carla Olivares ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Listening Levels ◽  
Preferred Listening Levels

scholarly journals An Experimental Study on Maximum Sound Output Capabilities and Preferred Listening Levels Using Different Earphone Types

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-13
Author(s):  
Waynn-Nielsen C. Destriza ◽  
Roderick B. De Castro ◽  
Howard M. Enriquez
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Maximum Output ◽  
Noise Induced Hearing Loss ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Listening Levels ◽  
Personal Media ◽  
Preferred Listening Levels

Objective: The study aims to compare the maximum sound output capabilities of different earphone types/music style combinations. The study also intends to assess the preferred listening levels (PLL) of test subjects using different earphone types with background noise accession. The study also seeks to determine the presence or absence of a threshold shift on headphone/music style combination PLL’s that exceed the recommended noise limit. Methods Study Design:            Experimental Study Setting:                       Tertiary Government Hospital Subjects: Thirty (30) hearing healthy volunteers were sampled from hospital staff aged 18-40 years, with no known history of ear pathology and/or use of any known ototoxic drugs, with normal otoscopy and audiograms of less than 20dB from 125Hz to 8000Hz, and no exposure to loud noise from any source within the previous 3 days. The sound pressure levels (SPL) delivered by three (3) types of earphones (earbud type, in-ear type, supra-aural type) were measured at maximum volume setting of a personal media player (iPod, Apple Inc.), while playing different music genres. The test subjects were asked to listen at their preferred listening levels (PLL) using the different types of earphones at increasing background noise accession. Results: The earbud type averaged the greatest SPL among the earphone types, and pop music averaged the greatest SPL among the music styles. Comparison of the maximum output capabilities revealed that there was a significant difference among different brands of earphones of the same type. However, no significant difference were found among songs of similar music style and across different music styles in all earphones except the in-ear type. PLL average was at 90.4dB in a silent environment with increasing intensity as background noise accentuated. Supra-aural earphones registered the least increase in PLL in a loud environment, due to its higher background noise-attenuating capabilities. Conclusion: Having a significant difference among earphone types with regard their maximum output capabilities, it is recommended to check the specifications of the earphone type one intends to use. In using personal media players (PMP), the volume should be set at the lowest comfortable level. While choice of music style remains the discretion of the listener, the choice of music style should be considered for long periods of listening. Because the PLL of test subjects were alarmingly high, the authors recommend intervention in their listening habits. Background noise attenuating capabilities of earphones play a factor in reducing excessive sound energy from reaching the ear, reducing the PLL, and decreasing the risk for noise-induced hearing loss. Keywords:     earphones, music styles, personal media players, preferred listening levels, recreational noise, noise-induced hearing loss

Preferred Listening Levels for Linear and Slow-Acting Compression Hearing Aids

1995 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 407-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arlene C. Neuman ◽  
Matthew H. Bakke ◽  
Sharon Hellman ◽  
Harry Levitt
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Listening Levels ◽  
Preferred Listening Levels

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

2014 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 1535-1547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Fligor ◽  
Sandra Levey ◽  
Tania Levey
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Age Factors ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Location Awareness ◽  
Noise Induced Hearing Loss ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Listening Levels ◽  
Music Genre

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 (L A8hn ) and weekly (L Awkn ) 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.

scholarly journals Perceptual Benefits of Extended Bandwidth Hearing Aids With Children: A Within-Subject Design Using Clinically Available Hearing Aids

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 3834-3846
Author(s):  
Maaike Van Eeckhoutte ◽  
Susan Scollie ◽  
Robin O'Hagan ◽  
Danielle Glista
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Sensation Level ◽  
Output Frequency ◽  
Frequency Method ◽  
Average Maximum ◽  
Subjective Preference ◽  
Listening Levels ◽  
Preferred Listening Levels

Purpose The aim of the study was to investigate the achieved audibility with clinically available, modern, high-end, behind-the-ear hearing aids fitted using the Desired Sensation Level v5.0 child prescription for a clinical sample of children with hearing impairment and the effect of the extended bandwidth provided by the hearing aids on several outcome measures. Method The achieved audibility was measured using the maximum audible output frequency method. Twenty-eight children (7–17 years old) with mild to severe hearing losses completed this study. Two hearing aid conditions were fitted for each participant: an extended bandwidth condition, which was fitted to targets as closely as possible, and a restricted bandwidth condition, for which aided output was restricted above 4.5 kHz. Consonant discrimination in noise, subjective preference, aided loudness growth, and preferred listening levels were evaluated in both conditions. Results The extended bandwidth hearing aid fittings provided speech audibility above 4.5 kHz for all children, with an average maximum audible output frequency of 7376 Hz ( SD = 1669 Hz). When compared to a restricted bandwidth, the extended bandwidth condition led to an improvement of 5.4% for consonant discrimination in noise scores, mostly attributable to /s/, /z/, and /t/ phoneme perception. Aided loudness results and preferred listening levels were not significantly different across bandwidth conditions; however, 65% of the children indicated a subjective preference for the extended bandwidth. Conclusion The study suggests that providing the full bandwidth available, with modern, behind-the-ear hearing aids, leads to improved audibility, when compared to restricted bandwidth hearing aids, and that it leads to beneficial outcomes for children who use hearing aids, fitted to the Desired Sensation Level v5.0 child prescription, without causing significant increases in their loudness perception.

Changes in Hearing Sensitivity Following Portable Stereo System Use

1993 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 64-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Pugsley ◽  
Andrew Stuart ◽  
Joseph Kalinowski ◽  
Joy Armson
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Auditory Thresholds ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Confidence Levels ◽  
System Use ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Listening Levels ◽  
Significant Impairment ◽  
Preferred Listening Levels

Changes in hearing sensitivity following portable stereo system (PSS; Sony Walkman Model WM-AF605 with Sony Semiaural Headphones Model MDR-A21L) use were investigated. Test-retest differences (TRDs) in audiometric thresholds at eight frequencies (250, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000, & 8000 Hz) were obtained from 15 young adults before and after one hour of PSS exposure at their preferred listening levels. Values for the 95% confidence levels representing critical differences in test-retest auditory thresholds for the eight test frequencies were generated from a control group of 15 young adults. Experimental subjects' TRDs, when compared to the critical TRDs, failed to display a decrease in hearing sensitivity after one hour of PSS use. It is suggested that PSS use at preferred listening levels, following an exposure time of one hour, may not contribute to a significant impairment in hearing sensitivity.

Transient Sensorineural Hearing Loss after Overuse of Portable Headphone Cassette Radios

1985 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 622-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip C. Lee ◽  
Craig W. Senders ◽  
Bruce J. Gantz ◽  
Steven R. Otto
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Maximum Level ◽  
Acoustic Trauma ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing ◽  
Maximum Output ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Listening Levels

Noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss has been associated with Industry for many years. One conservative estimate suggests that 10 million Americans may have industry-related, noise-induced hearing loss. Acoustic trauma from any source, whether associated with work or recreations, is detrimental to hearing. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has set industrial standards for noise levels, with current standards limiting noise exposure to 95 dBA for 2 hours daily. To date, however, there are no recreational standards. Many portable headphone cassette radios produce peak outputs of more than 100 dBA. Temporary threshold shifts could result from listening levels near the maximum output. Permanent sensorineural loss may result with repeated exposure. A pilot study was conducted in which 16 volunteers listened to headphone sets for 3 hours at their usual maximum level. Six volunteers showed transient shifts of 10 dB, and one volunteer showed a transient shift of approximately 30 dB. These shifts returned to normal within 24 hours. As expected, transient shifts frequently occur with recreational use. Therefore, recreational warnings and standards should be established.

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