Are Girls More at Risk for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?

Another new study shows girls may be more at risk for noise-induced hearing loss. Published online in Pediatrics (Vol. 127 No. 1 January 2011, pp. e39-e46 [doi:10.1542/peds.2010-0926]) a new study entitled "Prevalence of noise-induced threshold shifts and hearing loss among U.S. youths" looked at trends in adolescents. The study found an increased prevalence of noise-induced threshold shifts in girls, and concluded that it may have been caused by increased exposure to recreational noise as well as minimal use of hearing protection in girls. The study's abstract is included here;to read the full study or for a subscription to Pediatrics, please visit pediatrics.aappublications.org/

AUTHORS:
Elisabeth Henderson, BA, Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health
Marcia A. Testa, MPH, PhD, Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health
Christopher Hartnick, MD, MS, Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School

OBJECTIVE: We investigated trends in noise-induced threshold shifts (NITSs), high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL), and low-frequency hearingloss (LFHL).

METHODS: A total of 4310 adolescents 12 to 19 years of age completed audiometric testing during National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys in 1988-1994 and 2005-2006. NITS criteria were audiometric patterns of decreased 3- to 6-kHz thresholds but preserved 0.5- to 1-kHz and 8-kHz thresholds;HFHL and LFHL criteria were high and low pure-tone averages, respectively, of>15 dB HL.

RESULTS: There were no significant increases in NITSs (odds ratio [OR]: 0.81 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.53-1.22];P = .29), HFHL (OR: 1.21 [95% CI: 0.87-1.69];P = .25), or LFHL (OR: 1.37 [95% CI: 0.77-2.45];P = .28) between survey periods. However, a significant increase in the prevalence of NITSs occurred among female youths (11.6% [95% CI: 9.0%-14.1%] vs 16.7% [95% CI: 13.2%-20.3%];P
CONCLUSIONS: Increased exposure to recreational noise and minimal use of hearing protection might have lead to an increase in NITS prevalence among female youths.