Alexandra Ulery
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Research Mentor(s): Xin Zhang
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Environmental Health Sciences / Public Health
Program:
Authors:
Session: Session 5: 2:40 pm – 3:30 pm
Poster: 86
Abstract
There is an abundance of research into occupational noise exposure and occupational sound level recommendations in place from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health. Only limited guidelines exist for recreational noise exposure, though recreational noise exposure can cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), tinnitus, and other health issues. In this study, we sought to determine how user frequency, listening duration, and listening levels in terms of sound intensity and preferred listening level have changed over time by reviewing studies published from the 1970s through the present day. To conduct a review of the literature, we used Covidence to screen articles. We excluded 988 studies out of a total of 1477 on the basis of irrelevant titles or abstracts, then excluded a further 234 studies out of the 489 on the basis of irrelevant full texts. At the end of this process, we began the process of extraction with the remaining 255 articles. We are eager to find out whether, given the increasing prevalence of personal listening devices in modern society, the accessibility of personal listening devices such as headphones in the present day, and the rise of free music apps such as Spotify, the listening duration and frequency have increased over time, and whether the preferred listening levels and sound intensity of exposure have changed. This narrative literature review will help us to contextualize the results of our Apple Hearing Study data and to reach our ultimate goal of determining the long-term predictability of NIHL incidence as a result of personal listening device use.
