Loud music

Abstract: Objective. Many adolescents and young adults consciously expose themselves to loud music for entertainment. We hypothesized that these individuals might not be aware that exposure to loud music could result in hearing loss. Furthermore, we wished to assess the feasibility of a web-based survey to collect health information from this group. Methods. A 28-question survey was designed to target adolescents and young adults. The survey contained questions about views toward general health issues, including hearing loss, and was presented to random visitors at the MTV web site. Results. In 3 days, 9693 web surveys were completed. Hearing loss was defined on a Likert scale as “a very big problem” by 8% of respondents compared with other health issues: sexually transmitted diseases, 50%; alcohol/drug use, 47%; depression, 44%; smoking, 45%; nutrition and weight issues, 31%; and acne, 18%. Notably, most respondents had experienced tinnitus or hearing impairment attending concerts (61%) and clubs (43%). Only 14% of respondents had used earplugs; however, many could be motivated to try ear protection if they were aware of the potential for permanent hearing loss (66%) or were advised by a medical professional (59%). Conclusions. A majority of young adults have experienced tinnitus and hearing impairment after exposure to loud music. Fortunately, many of these individuals could be motivated to wear ear protection. This novel web-based survey technique rapidly generated a large database and is a feasible method to obtain health data from this group.

Abstract: Based on first-person accounts of interrogators and former detainees as well as unclassified military documents, this article outlines the variety of ways that “loud music” has been used in the detention camps of the United States‘ “global war on terror.” A survey of practices at Bagram Air Force Base, Afghanistan; Camp Nama (Baghdad), Iraq; Forward Operating Base Tiger (Al-Qaim), Iraq; Mosul Air Force Base, Iraq; Guantanamo, Cuba; Camp Cropper (Baghdad), Iraq; and at the “dark prisons” from 2002 to 2006 reveals that the use of “loud music” was a standard, openly acknowledged component of “harsh interrogation.” Such music was understood to be one medium of the approach known as “futility” in both the 1992 and the 2006 editions of the US Army's field manual for interrogation. The purpose of such “futility” techniques as “loud music” and “gender coercion” is to persuade a detainee that resistance to interrogation is futile, yet the military establishment itself teaches techniques by which “the music program” can be resisted. The article concludes with the first-person account of a young US citizen, working in Baghdad as a contractor, who endured military detention and “the music program” for ninety-seven days in mid-2006—a man who knew how to resist.

Abstract: Background: Hearing loss is defined as worsening of hearing acuity and is usually expressed as an increase in the hearing threshold Tinnitus, defined as “ringing in the ear”, is a common and often disturbing accompaniment of hearing loss Hearing loss and environmental exposures to noise are increasingly recognized health problems Objectives: The objective was to assess whether the exposure-response relationship can be established between exposures to non-occupational noise and permanent hearing outcomes such as permanent hearing loss and tinnitus Methods: Information sources: Computer searches of all accessible medical and other databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus) were performed and complemented with manual searches The search was not limited to a particular time span, except for the effects of personal listening devices (PLDs) The latter was limited to the years 2008–June 2015, since previous knowledge was summarized by SCENIHR descriptive systematic review published in 2008 Study eligibility criteria: The inclusion criteria were as follows: the exposure to noise was measured in sound pressure levels (SPLs) and expressed in individual equivalent decibel values (LEX,8h), the studies included both exposed and reference groups, the outcome was a permanent health effect, ie, permanent hearing loss assessed with pure-tone audiometry and/or permanent tinnitus assessed with a questionnaire The eligibility criteria were evaluated by two independent reviewers Study appraisal and synthesis methods: The risk of bias was assessed for all of the papers using a template for assessment of quality and the risk of bias The GRADE (grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation) approach was used to assess the overall quality of evidence Meta-analysis was not possible due to methodological heterogeneity of included studies and the inadequacy of data Results: Out of 220 references identified, five studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria All of them were related to the use of PLDs and comprised in total of 1551 teenagers and young adults Three studies used hearing loss as the outcome and three tinnitus There was a positive correlation between noise level and hearing loss either at standard or extended high frequencies in all three of the studies on hearing loss In one study, there was also a positive correlation between the duration of PLD use and hearing loss There was no association between prolonged listening to loud music through PLDs and tinnitus or the results were contradictory All of the evidence was of low quality Limitations: The studies are cross-sectional No study provides odds ratios of hearing loss by the level of exposure to noise Conclusions: While using very strict inclusion criteria, there is low quality GRADE evidence that prolonged listening to loud music through PLDs increases the risk of hearing loss and results in worsening standard frequency audiometric thresholds However, specific threshold analyses focused on stratifying risk according to clearly defined levels of exposure are missing Future studies are needed to provide actionable guidance for PLDs users No studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria related to other isolated or combined exposures to environmental noise were identified

Abstract: Listening to loudly amplified music can be responsible for hearing damage of the same nature as that caused by industrial noise. This study of the repercussions on hearing is based on isolating different types of risks (PCPs (personal cassette players), discotheques and rock/variety concerts) using 'pure' exposed groups matched subject to subject for age and sex to control groups. Hearing is studied with high-definition audiometry and an 'auditory suffering' indicator. Although discotheque patrons present on average no audiometric damage (211 subjects), a statistically significant increase of average hearing thresholds is found in young people using a PCP > 7 h/week (54 subjects) compared to those using one 2-7 h/week (195 subjects) and compared to their matched controls. The same is true for subjects who go to rock concerts at least twice a month (87 subjects) compared to their matched controls. Signs of auditory suffering are found in two subjects out of three in this last exposure group, as opposed to 12% of the controls. Measures to conserve young people's hearing must include a reduction of sound levels, the education of music and entertainment professionals, and making PCP users better informed.