Loud Noise: Too Loud, Too Long

Hearing trouble is the third most prevalent health condition reported by US adults. Noise is the most common modifiable environmental cause of hearing loss. Chronic exposure to noise has been associated with increased stress, anxiety, depression, blood pressure, heart disease incidence, and many other health problems. Despite recent studies that have reported on increased exposure to loud noise during leisure activities, we do not know how much of hearing loss is related to noise outside of work, nor are there any federal regulations regarding safe noise exposures outside the workplace. The study found that about 40 million U.S. adults aged 20-69 years have NIHL. The presence of NIHL increased from one in five among young adults aged 20-29 years to one in four among adults aged 50-59 years. Nearly one in five adults who reported no occupational exposure had an audiometric notch. This finding suggests that 21 million adults in the U.S. are likely to have hearing damage from loud sound sources at home or in their communities.