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Binge Listening: Leisure noise and hearing loss

On 20 May, 2010, at the national conference of Audiology Australia, Australian Hearing released the report: Binge Listening: Is exposure to leisure noise causing hearing loss in young Australians? The report combines data from an online survey of the lifestyle patterns of 1000 young adult Australians, with physical measurements of the sound pressure levels in a wide range of leisure activities and environments. Dance parties, night clubs and MP3 players emerged as the dominant source of sound exposure. Those receiving the highest sound doses also reported the highest rate of hearing loss symptoms. Over 1/3 of young Australians still do not realise that hearing loss is irreversible, and many who are receiving dangerous doses of sound think they have little or no risk of permanent hearing loss. NAL's measurements of sound levels in different leisure environments is supported by the Australian Government and is performed as part of the research program of The Hearing CRC.