Personal listening device usage among Canadians and audiometric outcomes among 6–29 year olds

Figures & data

Figure 1. Canadian Health Measures Survey: Exclusions for hearing evaluation module (unweighted). Note: DPOAE = distortion product otoacoustic emissions.

Table 1. PLD user group by age and sex among Canadians, aged 6–79.

		Loud PLD Users			Non Loud PLD Users			Non PLD Users
Variable description	Variable	n	N ('000)	% (95% CI)	n	N ('000)	% (95% CI)	n	N ('000)	% (95% CI)
All participants	Overall^§	2016	5956	19.5 (17.5–21.4)	3224	8300	27.1 (24.8–29.5)	5110	16361	53.4 (50.5–56.4)
Sex	Male^§	1059	3236	21.2 (18.8–23.6)	1636	4270	28 (25–30.9)	2468	7768	50.9 (47.1–54.6)
	Female^§	957	2720	17.7 (15.5–19.9)	1588	4030	26.3 (23.7–28.8)	2642	8593	56 (53–59)
Age Groups	6–11^§	260	283	13.1 (10.6–15.5)	818	866	40 (36.2–43.8)	949	1017	46.9 (41.9–52)
	12–19^§	851	1394	44.2 (40.6–47.9)	955	1479	46.9 (43–50.9)	221	279	8.8 (6.7–11.5)
	20–29	248	1726	36.3 (30–42.7)	238	1797	37.8 (30.4–45.2)	212	1226	25.8 (18.5–33.1)
	30–39^§	300	1124^E	24.1 (15.6–32.6)^E	417	1405	30.2 (25.1–35.2)	702	2127	45.7 (37.4–54)
	40–49^§	200	697	14.3 (10.9–17.8)	356	1119	23 (17.3–28.8)	770	3046	62.7 (55–70.3)
	50–59^§	78	479^E	9.6 (6.8–13.2)	169	869	17.3 (12.7–22)	553	3663	73.1 (68.1–78.1)
	60–69^§	65	205^E	5.1 (3.5–7.3)^E	208	627	15.6 (12.4–18.8)	1069	3189	79.3 (75.5–83.2)
	70–79^§		^F	^F	63	138	6.9 (5–9.4)	634	1814	90.7 (87–93.4)

Note: 110 participants did not respond to some or all of the PLD user questions. Source: 2012/2013; 2014/2015 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS).

^EInterpret with caution, coefficient of variation between 16.6% and 33.3%.

^Ftoo unreliable to be published coefficient of variation was greater than 33.3%; n = study sample; N = population size; CI: confidence interval; PLD: personal listening device.

^§PLD user groups significant at the p < 0.01 level within the level of the demographic variable.

Table 2. PLD weekly usage (any volume and loud volume) among Canadians, aged 6–79.

		PLD Usage (Any Volume) (hours/week)				Loud Volume PLD Usage (hours/week)
		n	N('000)	Median (95% CI)	Mean (95% CI)	n	N('000)	Median (95% CI)	Mean (95% CI)
Overall		5240	14256	3.3 (2.8–3.8)	7.9 (7–8.7)	2016	5956	2.9 (2.5–3.2)	6 (5.4–6.5)
Sex	Male	2695	7506	3.8 (3.1–4.5)	8.8 (7.6–10)	1059	3236	3 (2.5–3.5)	6.5 (5.7–7.2)
	Female	2545	6750	2.9 (2.5–3.4)	6.8 (6–7.7)	957	2720	2.6 (1.7–3.5)	5.4 (4.2–6.6)
Age groups	6–11	1078	1149	1.6 (1.2–2)	4.2 (3.2–5.2)	260	283	1.6 (0.7–2.5)^E	4.3 (2.9–5.7)
	12–19	1806	2873	6.5 (6.1–6.9)	12.3 (10.9–13.6)	851	1394	4.8 (3.8–5.8)	9.1 (7.5–10.6)
	20–29	486	3522	4.6 (3.6–5.5)	8.1 (6.2–9.9)	248	1726	3.3 (2.1–4.5)^E	6 (4.9–7.1)
	30–39	717	2529	2.7 (1.8–3.6)	7.1 (5.4–8.9)	300	1124	F	5.2 (3.3–7.1)^E
	40–49	556	1816	2.7 (2–3.5)	5.4 (4.1–6.6)	200	697	1.9 (0.9–2.8)^E	3.1 (2.5–3.8)
	50–59	247	1349	2.7 (1.7–3.7)^E	6.3 (4.1–8.6)^E	78	479	F	4.6 (2.9–6.3)^E
	60–69	273	831	2.7 (1.7–3.7)^E	7.1 (5–9.1)	65	205	2 (0.7–3.2)^E	4.2 (2.8–5.6)
	70–79	77	187	3.6 (1.4–5.7)^E	8.1 (4.8–11.4)^E	14	49	^F	^F

Source: 2012/2013; 2014/2015 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS).

^EInterpret with caution, coefficient of variation between 16.6% and 33.3%

^Ftoo unreliable to be published coefficient of variation was greater than 33.3%; n = study sample; N = population size; CI: confidence interval; PLD: personal listening device.

Table 3. Sociodemographic variables among 6–29 year olds.

Sociodemographic variable	Categories	*n	*N ('000)	% (95% CI)
Total		4807	10148
Age groups	6–11	2055	2185	21.5 (20.7–22.4)
	12–19	2048	3183	31.4 (30.1–32.6)
	20–29	704	4781	47.1 (45–49.2)
Sex	Male	2410	5104	50.3 (47.7–52.9)
	Female	2397	5045	49.7 (47.1–52.3)
Household income	<$50,000	1408	3068	30.2 (26.2–34.3)
	$50,000 to <$100,000	1665	3761	37.1 (33.5–40.6)
	$100,000 or more	1734	3319	32.7 (28.6–36.8)
Education (highest level in household)	Secondary education or less	831	1879	19.9 (16.9–22.9)
	Some post secondary or higher	3680	7563	80.1 (77.1–83.1)
CHMS Cycle	2012–2013	2405	5086	50.1 (48.2–52)
	2014–2015	2402	5063	49.9 (48–51.8)

Note: All participants completed the household questionnaire. Source: Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) 2012–2015.

n = study sample; N = population sample; CI: confidence interval.

*Includes participants who were excluded from audiometric evaluation.

Figure 2. Prevalence of loud PLD usage among Canadian PLD users, aged 6–29. ♦ Prevalence of loud PLD usage: CV <16.6%; ♦ Prevalence of loud PLD usage: CV ≥ 16.6% and <33.3%, interpret with caution; PLD = personal listening device; CV=coefficient of variation. Note: Prevalence rates with a CV ≥ 33.3% not shown.

Table 4. PLD user groups by age, sex, household income, education and participation in other loud leisure noise activities among Canadians aged 6–29 years.

		Loud PLD Users			Non Loud PLD Users			Non PLD Users
Variable	Category	n	N('000)	% (95% CI)	n	N('000)	% (95% CI)	n	N('000)	% (95% CI)
All participants	Overall^§	1359	3402	33.8 (30.7–36.9)	2011	4142	41.1 (37.4–44.9)	1382	2521	25 (21–29.1)
Age Groups	6–11^§	260	283	13.1 (10.6–15.5)	818	866	40 (36.2–43.8)	949	1017	46.9 (41.9–52)
	12–19^§	851	1394	44.2 (40.6–47.9)	955	1479	46.9 (43–50.9)	221	279	8.8 (6.7–11.5)
	20–29	248	1726	36.3 (30–42.7)	238	1797	37.8 (30.4–45.2)	212	1226	25.8 (18.5–33.1)
Sex	Male^§	693	1807	35.6 (31.4–39.9)	999	2139	42.2 (38.4–46)	697	1126	22.2 (17.7–26.7)
	Female*	666	1595	31.9 (27.6–36.3)	1012	2003	40.1 (34.7–45.5)	685	1395	27.9 (22.5–33.4)
Household Income	<$50,000	451	1051	34.5 (28.8–40.2)	515	1177	38.6 (32.3–44.8)	427	822	26.9 (20.7–33.2)
	$50,000 to <$100,000*	483	1293	34.6 (29.7–39.5)	692	1525	40.8 (33.9–47.7)	473	919	24.6 (18.4–30.8)
	$100,000 or more^§	425	1058	32.3 (26–38.5)	804	1440	43.9 (37.4–50.4)	482	780	23.8 (18.3–29.3)
Education (highest level in household)	Secondary education or less	274	697	37.4 (29.9–44.9)	299	659	35.4 (27.3–43.4)	244	508	27.2 (19.4–35.1)
	Some post secondary or higher^§	984	2474	33 (29.6–36.4)	1599	3121	41.6 (37.3–45.9)	1060	1907	25.4 (20.9–29.9)
^aParticipation in other loud leisure noise activities excluding PLD use	^bhigh (40 h or more per week)^§	340	1296	51.1 (44.5–57.7)	217	874	34.5 (28.4–40.5)	114	366E	14.4 (9.3–19.6)^E
	^bmedium (between 4 and 40 h/week)^§	452	1130	41.9 (36.1–47.6)	446	1007	37.3 (31–43.6)	202	563	20.8 (14.5–27.2)
	^blow (up to 4 h/week)^§	379	652	23.5 (18.7–28.4)	798	1243	44.9 (41–48.7)	551	874	31.6 (26–37.2)
	non-user^§	185	322	15.6 (10.6–20.7)	546	1016	49.4 (41.1–57.7)	515	719	35 (27.8–42.1)
CHMS Cycle	2012–2013^§	688	1773	35 (30.5–39.5)	989	2008	39.6 (35.2–44.1)	709	1284	25.4 (20.5–30.2)
	2014–2015^§	671	1629	32.6 (28.7–36.4)	1022	2134	42.7 (36.8–48.6)	673	1237	24.7 (18.1–31.4)

Note: A total of 55 participants did not respond to some or all of the PLD user questions. Source: 2012/2013; 2014/2015 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS).

n = study sample; N = population size; CI: confidence interval; PLD: personal listening device

^aOther loud leisure noise activities or exposures include power tools, heavy industrial, farming or construction equipment, hand-held gasoline engines, motorcycles or snowmobiles driven at highway speeds, sporting or entertainment events, amplified music (concerts, nightclubs, band member), loud music listening without headphones or earbuds (home or car stereos), firearms.

^bNoise exposure classifications were based on adjusted weekly self-reported duration of exposure or usage that was equivalent to or above 85 dBA SPL or greater than or equal to 40 h per week (high), greater than 4 h to less than 40 h per week (medium), and 4 h or less per week (low) (Feder et al. 2019).

^EInterpret with caution, coefficient of variation between 16.6% and 33.3%.

*PLD user groups significant at the p < 0.05 level within the level of the demographic variable.

^§PLD user groups significant at the p < 0.01 level within the level of the demographic variable.

Table 5. Association between loud PLD usage and other loud leisure noise activities.

Loud leisure noise activity	Participation	n	N ('000)	% (95% CI)	OR (95% CI)
Power tools	Yes	502	1248	48.5 (42.5–54.4)	1.2 (0.9–1.7)
	^aNo	857	2154	43.4 (38.2–48.5)
Heavy industrial /farming/ construction equipment	Yes	222	606^E	49.9 (35.6–64.2)	1.3 (0.6–2.5)
	^aNo	1136	2795	44.2 (39.3–49)
Gasoline engines	Yes	311	746	48.3 (39.1–57.5)	1.2 (0.8–1.8)
	^aNo	1047	2654	44.3 (39.7–48.8)
Motorcycle/snowmobiles at highway speed	Yes	276	611	56.8 (44.8–68.8)	1.7 (1–3.1)
	^aNo	1083	2791	43.2 (38.5–47.8)
Sporting/entertainment event	Yes	490	1203	47.3 (40.4–54.1)	1.1 (0.8–1.7)
	^aNo	869	2200	44 (38.6–49.4)
Amplified music: concerts, clubs, band member	Yes	704	2230	53.8 (48.9–58.6)	2.2 (1.6–3)^§
	^aNo	655	1172	34.5 (29.7–39.3)
Car or home stereo music (no headphones/earbuds)	Yes	829	2210	58.4 (53.1–63.7)	3 (2.1–4.3)^§
	^aNo	530	1193	31.8 (26.6–36.9)
Firearms	Yes	108	255^E	43.1 (27.6–58.7)^E	0.8 (0.4–1.7)
	^aNo	991	2864	49.4 (43.9 –54.8)

Source: 2012/2013; 2014/2015 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS).

n = study sample; N = population size; CI: confidence interval; OR: odds ratio; PLD: personal listening device.

^aReference group.

^EInterpret with caution, coefficient of variation between 16.6% and 33.3%.

^§p < 0.01.

Figure 3. Audiometric *means by PLD user group – 20–29 year olds. LF = low frequency pure tone average (0.5, 1 and 2 kHz); FF = four frequency pure tone average (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz); HF = high frequency pure tone average (3, 4 ,6 and 8 kHz). *adjusted for age, sex, family income and CHMS cycle.

Figure 4. Audiometric *means by PLD user group – 12–19 year olds. LF = low frequency pure tone average (0.5, 1 and 2 kHz); FF = four frequency pure tone average (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz); HF = high frequency pure tone average (3, 4, 6 and 8 kHz). *adjusted for age, sex, family income and CHMS cycle.

Figure 5. Audiometric *means by PLD user group – 6–11 year olds. LF = low frequency pure tone average (0.5, 1 and 2 kHz); FF = four frequency pure tone average (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz); HF = high frequency pure tone average (3, 4, 6 and 8 kHz). *adjusted for age, sex, family income and CHMS cycle.

Table 6. Adjusted^a audiometric means and duration of loud PLD usage (in number of years) among Canadians, aged 12–29 years.

Frequency	Duration of loud PLD usage	12–19 year olds (n = 672, N = 1096) dB (95% CI)	20–29 year olds (n = 203, N = 1465) dB (95% CI)
500 Hz	5 years or more	9.91 (7.85–11.97)	13.25 (10.12–16.39)
	less than 5 years	11.65 (10.65–12.64)	12.77 (10.45–15.08)
1 kHz	5 years or more	6.79 (4.42–9.16)^E	9 (6.42–11.59)
	less than 5 years	6.49 (5.46–7.52)	5.92 (3.58–8.25)^E
2 kHz	5 years or more	5.48 (3.22–7.73)^E,^§	10.71 (6.94–14.47)^E
	less than 5 years	8.88 (7.7–10.07)	9.31 (6.86–11.76)
3 kHz	5 years or more	6.69 (5.16–8.23)	13.37 (8.42–18.31)^E,*
	less than 5 years	7.99 (6.62–9.36)	7.58 (4.48–10.68)^E
4 kHz	5 years or more	4.8 (3.13–6.46)^E	10.61 (5.65–15.58)^E,^§
	less than 5 years	4.73 (3.59–5.87)	4.51 (1.45–7.57)^E
6 kHz	5 years or more	14.94 (11.04–18.85)	19.69 (14.07–25.31)
	less than 5 years	12.8 (10.21–15.39)	13.61 (9.64–17.58)
8 kHz	5 years or more	9.57 (7.01–12.13)	16.97 (10.84–23.1)^E,^§
	less than 5 years	8.56 (6.68–10.43)	6.79 (3.36–10.22)^E
FF PTA	5 years or more	6.53 (4.89–8.18)	10.49 (7.23–13.74)
	less than 5 years	7.63 (6.72–8.55)	8.02 (5.97–10.07)
HF PTA	5 years or more	8.5 (6.48–10.51)	14.36 (9.2–19.52)^E,*
	less than 5 years	8.1 (6.64–9.56)	7.91 (4.92–10.91)^E
LFPTA	5 years or more	7 (5.16–8.85)	10.8 (7.83–13.78)
	less than 5 years	8.71 (7.76–9.67)	8.97 (6.83–11.1)

Note: loud PLD usage was self-reported and was not calculated using weightings. Source: 2012/2013; 2014/2015 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS).

n = study sample; N = population size given in ‘000; FFPTA: four frequency pure tone average (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz); HFPTA: high frequency pure tone average (3, 4, 6 and 8 kHz); LFPTA: low frequency pure tone average (0.5, 1 and 2 kHz); dB: decibels; CI: confidence interval.

^aModels were adjusted for age, sex, family income and CHMS cycle.

^EInterpret with caution, coefficient of variation between 16.6% and 33.3%.

*Significant difference between audiometric means among those who listened to their PLD at loud volumes for 5 years or more and less than 5 years p < 0.05.

^§Significant difference between audiometric means among those who listened to their PLD at loud volumes for 5 years or more and less than 5 years p < 0.01.

Figure 6. Audiometric *means by loud PLD listening per week – 20–29 year olds. LF = low frequency pure tone average (0.5, 1 and 2 kHz); FF = four frequency pure tone average (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz); HF = high frequency pure tone average (3, 4, 6 and 8 kHz). *adjusted for age, sex, family income and CHMS cycle.

Feder, K., L. Marro, J. McNamee, and D. Michaud. 2019. “Prevalence of Loud Leisure Noise Activities among a Representative Sample of Canadians Aged 6-79 years.” The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 146 (5): 3934–3946. doi:https://doi.org/10.1121/1.5132949.

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