Current perspective on children’s auditory perception and consequences of noise exposure effects

• Exposure to high sound pressure levels is well known to cause auditory damage, regardless of age. There is however limited knowledge of the effects on hearing due to noise exposure early in life. In addition, no well-established model is used to describe how children perceive and experience their sound environment compared to adults. New studies of children’s hearing have revealed different directivity pattern especially at high frequencies given by the head-related transfer functions due to the anthropometric data of the children and also an ear canal resonance at considerable higher frequencies compared to adults. Recent studies also describe children feeling a great deal of discomfort when exposed to sounds with high frequency characteristics. Children today are exposed to high sound levels from an early age at preschool, school and during leisure time. Few studies have looked at general health effects or hearing in particular. It is being discussed whether age related hearing loss, regarded as an inevitable part of life, to a large extent may be caused by a lifetime of noise exposure starting early in life. This paper will review available studies on noise induced hearing damage among children and give suggestions for future studies within this field.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Health and Environmental Health (hsv//eng)

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