HEARING LOSS among adolescents has increased by almost a third in a decade, with some one in five adolescents in the US now experiencing hearing loss, according to research published this morning in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Dr Josef Shargorodsky and colleagues from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston examined data from two large national databases to see if there had been a change in the prevalence of hearing loss among 12-19-year-olds.
They compared the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey from 1988-1994 with the same survey covering the years 2005-2006, and found that the prevalence of adolescent hearing loss increased from 14.9 per cent to 19.5 per cent.
Using questionnaires and audiometry (to objectively test for hearing loss), the researchers found that most cases of hearing impairment were mild and affected one ear rather than both. Loss of hearing was more common at high frequency in both surveys.
The use of iPods and MP3 players by adolescents was not specifically assessed so no definite conclusion about an association between the use of personal music players and hearing loss was possible. However, the researchers looked at previous exposure to firearms and self-reported exposure to five or more hours of loud music per week.
Interestingly, they found no association between such exposures and hearing loss in the 2005-2006 group.
Hearing loss is a common sensory disorder. In school-aged children, even slight hearing loss can create a need for speech therapy and auditory training. Mild hearing loss in young children can impair speech and language development and lead to decreased educational achievement and also affect social development.
An Australian study of slight to mild hearing loss found the reported use of personal stereo devices was associated with a 70 per cent increase in the risk of hearing loss.