TUNE! Teaching the UK About Noise Exposure: A Pilot Study

Summary

In 1986 The Medical Research Council estimated that 4 million UK adolescents were at risk of hearing damage from over-exposure to loud music from personal audio players (PAPs), gigs, clubs, pubs and festivals. Since that time social noise exposure is estimated to have tripled to 19% of young people. The European Commission commissioned a report that estimated 5-10% of personal audio player users are risking permanent hearing loss and tinnitus by listening to music at high volumes for more than 1 hour a day for 5 years or more. Up to 246 million PAPs were sold in Europe in 2008, and 200 million mobile phones, many of which now have built-in audio players. Nevertheless, a recent survey showed that only 8% of young people identify hearing loss as a health problem. The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) undertook two surveys of young people in the UK to analyse listening behaviours as part of their "Don't Lose the Music" campaign. As a consequence they offer listening advice given by flyers at events and online at the dedicated website. There have been no studies to confirm if such advice is effective in reducing noise exposure.

Aim: This study will pilot a methodology for a randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a publically-available online video in changing the listening habits of young music lovers i.e. reduce the volume and number of hours of exposure.

Hypothesis: A video and adapted sound track demonstrating the experience of noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus accessed online will change the listening habits of 18-25 year-olds.

Conditions

• Noise-induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

Interventions

OTHER

Modified Audio video

An audio video modified to mimic noise induced hearing loss after one night at a loud club

OTHER

Unmodified audio video

An audio video with unaltered music

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Cambridge

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Liverpool

  collaborator OTHER

• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Andrew Smith, MB ChB · London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

25 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2009-07-31

Primary Completion

2009-10-31

Completion

2009-11-30

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations