[Effect of information about hearing damage caused by loud music. For adolescents the music in discoteques is too loud despite loudness limits].
BACKGROUND
Information campaigns are regarded useful to prevent adolescents from hearing-damage due to loud music. This study examined whether adolescents who are informed on the risk of a hearing-damage, exhibit preventive behavior when attending discotheques.


METHODS
253 pupils (age 14 to 19 years) were interviewed about their disco attending habits and about their information on the risk associated with listening to loud music.


RESULTS
About 85% of the sample were informed about the risk. Informed and uninformed pupils did not significantly differ in the frequency of disco attendance nor in the frequency of using ear-plugs. However, significantly more informed pupils experienced disco music as too loud (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Information influences the subjective appraisal of loudness perception, but has little effect on preventive behavior. Instead, experimental forms of educational campaigns may be more effective. Additional provisions (lowering sound levels in discotheques) are necessary.
Weichbold
V
V
Klinische Abteilung für Hör-Stimm- und Sprachstörungen, Universitätskliniken, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck/Osterreich. viktor.weichbold@uklibk.ac.at
Zorowka
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D003615:Dancing; D004430:Ear Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception; D008297:Male; D009146:Music