The Impact of Youth Education on Noise Induced Hearing Loss Awareness and Prevention

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

9:30 AM - 9:36 AM EDT

Location: 231-232

Disclosure(s):

Danny Dang, BS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

William O. Collins, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) affects 5% of the global population and is the second most common cause of sensorineural hearing loss, after presbycusis. Adolescents experience NIHL at an increased rate of 12 -17%, potentially due to frequent headphone and earbud usage. Prevention of NIHL is crucial in this population, as pharmacotherapeutic interventions remain limited by low levels of evidence.

Methods: We developed and administered a youth education program that explained the auditory system, impact of unsafe noise levels, and implemented headphone safety features on mobile devices in local middle schools from 2022 - 2024. Students completed anonymized surveys about the auditory system, unsafe noise levels, and self-reported headphone/earbud usage and noise exposure before and after the program as part of a quality improvement effort.

Results: One hundred and three students participated. After the program, there was a 28% increase in knowledge on NIHL prevalence, a 21% increase on safe decibel exposure, a 15% increase on the concept of tinnitus, and a 19% increase on self-reported understanding of the auditory system and NIHL. Safer headphone usage was also recorded. Forty percent of students reported listening to their headphones less often, or with lower volume after the education program.

Conclusions: Educating youth about noise exposure and implementing tools to decrease NIHL improved students’ objective knowledge and reported subjective behaviors with headphones and earbuds. This program serves as a framework to decrease the burden of NIHL among young people. Further investigation is needed to determine long-term adherence after initial education.

Presenting Author(s)

Danny Dang, BS

Medical Student
University of Florida College of Medicine
Riverview, FL, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

Arunima Vijay, BA

Medical Student
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
MC

Muna Canales, MD

University of Florida, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Si Chen, MD

Assistant Professor
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

William O. Collins, MD

Professor and Department Chairman
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.