Hearing conservation in high school students: A model using significant threshold shifts.

Hearing loss affects 19.5% of adolescents between 15 and 19 years [Shargorodsky et al. (2010)]. Although often subtle, this hearing deficit impairs perception of speech and warning signals and may increase the risk of depression, accidents, and social isolation. It is now commonly known that even slight hearing loss (15–24 dB) can create a need for speech and language therapy and auditory training with specialized equipment. In adults, the leading preventable cause of acquired sensorineural hearing loss is exposure to excessive levels of noise, however, concern has now reached a pinnacle that children and young adults are developing noise induced hearing loss as a result of overexposure to amplified music, especially through the use of personal music players. Three high schools (N>3000) are now part of a study that (1) provides threshold audiograms on each student, (2) determines a threshold shift between a baseline and annual audiogram, and (3) provides intensity measures of personal music devices and ed...