Noise exposure levels from personal stereo use

Hearing healthcare professionals often express concern about the possible increased risk of noise injury, and potential for subsequent hearing loss that may result from the rise in the use of personal stereo players (PSP) in the community. Measurements were made of a sample of 55 individuals who were using a PSP as part of their daily activity, for example commuting to work, in what could be considered noisy backgrounds. Thus measurements could be considered to exemplify the worst-case conditions. The average, A-weighted, eight-hour equivalent, continuous noise exposure level was determined to be 79.8 dB, with a statistically significant difference between males and females, of 80.6 dB and 75.3 dB respectively. There was no correlation between self-reported hearing loss and/or the incidence of tinnitus. The noise exposure results obtained did not indicate that there was a significant increase in the risk to potential noise injury from PSP use alone.