Melbourne - Today in an Australian first, young Australians now can now use an online noise risk calculator to discover if they are at risk of developing hearing loss through their listening habits.
The online noise risk calculator was developed by the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL), the research division of Australian Hearing, as part of their knowyournoise.nal.gov.au.
It was developed for young Australians wanting to know if they have dangerous listening habits, such as after going to nightclubs, music concerts or after using personal music devices. Visitors to the website can quickly fill out an online survey that calculates their noise exposure risk based on lifestyle habits and provide suggestion on how they can manage these risks.
Dr Elizabeth Beach, a principal NAL researcher behind the Know Your Noise website, said data they have collected showed that nightclub noise can get dangerously high – up to 106 decibels.
“When assessing the hearing loss risk from loud music, you need to consider the duration as well as intensity. This is especially relevant for clubbers, as they spend a long time at clubs – somewhere between four and seven hours per night,”Dr Beach explained.
“To put this into a wider perspective, the average noise level of a nightclub is around 98 decibels and if you are in a club for around five hours, your noise exposure is equivalent to 12 times of what is allowed in Australian workplaces. Weekly visits to nightclubs over several years, multiply this exposure to make a very significant contribution to the risk of developing a hearing loss. ”
“There is also a quick hearing test on the Know Your Noise website to help visitors determine their ability to hear speech in noise. This test does not replace the need for clinical hearing assessments – instead it could recommend that some users see an audiologist,” Dr Beach said.
“By knowing their noise-risk profile and the results of the online hearing test, clubbers, music lovers and anyone else can take action to reduce their noise exposure and continue to appreciate the music they love.”
There are a few options that people can already take to minimise their exposure to loud noises, which include wearing earplugs at venues and taking regular breaks away from the noise.
“We know from our previous research there is already a small group of clubbers who know the hearing risks of loud noise and wear earplugs on a regular basis – it would be great if this caught on,” Dr Beach said.
“Some clubbers have also told us they would appreciate if nightclub venues provided quieter places to take a break - a similar concept to the ‘chill out’ rooms that were common in the 1990s.”
The Know Your Noise website is the first initiative of HEARsmart, an initiative by the HEARing Cooperative Research Centre aimed at promoting smarter hearing habits and reducing the incidence of acquired hearing loss. HEARsmart is supported by Australian Hearing and NAL, the Australian Deafness Foundation, and the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre.
The HEARing CRC
The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) is focused on the twin challenges of more effective prevention and improved remediation of hearing loss. HEARing CRC research is financially supported by the Cooperative Research Centres Program – a Commonwealth Government Initiative.
The National Acoustic Laboratories
The National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) is the research division of Australian Hearing, a Statutory Authority under the Commonwealth Department of Human Services.
NAL is a world leader in research into hearing assessment, hearing loss prevention and hearing rehabilitation. The research that NAL conducts is critical to helping people lead more fulfilling and productive lives. Click on the links below to read more about NAL's world-renowned scientific investigations and to find out how you can participate in this research.
