Risk-taking propensity as a risk factor for noise-induced hearing loss in the general population

Abstract

Objectives

To examine general risk propensity in relation to perceptions of noise, risk behaviour, and hearing loss in the general population.

Design

Participants completed an online survey using the Amazon Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform.

Study sample

The sample comprised 1274 adults from the United States.

Results

Higher general risk propensity was associated with an increased likelihood to engage in noise-risk behaviours. Lower general risk propensity was associated with increased knowledge of noise risks and an increased perception of noise as risky. The frequency of self-reported exposures to hazardous noise resulted in estimated annual noise doses exceeding standard hazard limits in 40% of the surveyed population.

Conclusions

Results revealed limited knowledge of the risks and associated health consequences of noise exposure in the general population Results of this study suggest a high rate of self-exposure to hazardous noise by the general population. Those with higher general risk propensity are more likely to engage in risky noise behaviour. Risky noise behaviour is associated with age, gender, race, ethnicity, and general risk propensity. Intervention programs to modify risky noise behaviour in the general population should focus on both increasing knowledge and establishing accurate perceptions of risk.

Keywords:

• Noise
• hearing screening
• noise-induced hearing loss
• risk propensity

Disclosure statement

SMR is founder and Chief Scientific Officer of RestorEar Devices LLC. The company did not financially support the study or their effort for this study. All COI is managed by the University of Miami.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Miami Laboratory for Integrative Knowledge Grant and the University of Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). Miami CTSI is supported by National Centre for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number UL1TR002736.