THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SELF-REPORTED RECREATIONAL NOISE EXPOSURE AND HEARING LOSS AMONG ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Recreational noise exposure is potentially a severe public health problem among adolescents and young adults. This study aims to determine the association between self-reported recreational noise exposure and hearing loss and to clarify the conflicting findings found in the current literature. Methods: The review builds on Elmazoska et al. (2024), who conducted a systematic review in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, systematically searching, screening, and synthesising literature on recreational noise exposure and hearing outcomes. In their review, a substantial proportion of studies were excluded because they relied on self-reported noise exposure measures rather than objective sound level data. For the present dissertation, all 66 studies from this exclusion group were re-screened. The same PEO (Population, Exposure, Outcome) criteria applied by Elmazoska et al. were used, with the key modification that studies measuring self-reported exposure were considered eligible if they employed validated, objective hearing outcome assessments. Results: Evidence indicates that self-reported recreational noise exposure is associated with early signs of hearing loss, particularly at higher frequencies. However, inconsistencies were observed across studies, primarily due to differences in study design, variability in exposure measurement (e.g., recall-based questionnaires vs. structured surveys), and inconsistent definitions of hearing impairment (e.g., threshold shift cut-offs, inclusion of tinnitus as an outcome). These methodological variations limit the direct comparability of findings. Conclusions: While self-reported data provide valuable insight into listening habits and potential risk behaviours, objective audiological measures remain essential to determine the presence and severity of hearing impairment accurately. Future research should combine subjective and objective approaches to improve the accuracy of risk estimation for noise-induced hearing loss in youth populations.