Polling: U.S. Hispanic Teens, Adults Report Listening To iPods, Similar Devices Louder, Longer

Commissioned By The American Speech-Language Hearing Association, Polling Asks About Listening Habits, Attitudes Among Different Hispanic Age Groups In U.S., Puerto Rico, And Mexico

Caution Raised About Potential Risk Of Hearing Loss From Unsafe Usage Of Personal Audio Technology

(Rockville, MD - November 15, 2006) Hispanic teens and adults in the United States report that they are listening to the popular iPod and other MP3 players for longer periods and at higher volumes than all teens and all adults according to polling commissioned by the American Speech-Language-Hearing-Association (ASHA) and conducted by Zogby International.

Although experts caution that permanent hearing loss may result from listening with earphones to personal audio technology products at high volumes for extended periods, the new polling indicates that more than half of U.S. Hispanic teens typically play the iPod at very loud or somewhat loud volume levels, compared to 41% of all teens who were asked in similar ASHA commissioned polling last winter.

As for the length of a "typical iPod session," the polling indicates that 42% of U.S. Hispanic teens listen for 1-4 hours, compared to 30% of all teens. In addition, 14% percent listen for 4 hours or more. For all teens, that figure is 11%.

The polling also shows that U.S. Hispanic teens are more likely to use the iPod. Forty-three percent report using it, compared to 36% of all teens. Nearly equal percentages of both groups-24% and 25%-report using other MP3 players.

Meantime, according to the polling, while U.S. Hispanic adults in many cases are less likely than all adults in the United States to use personal audio technology, when they use it, they are more likely to use it less safely in general. Also, they are more likely than all adults to use iPods and MP3 players. Seventeen percent report they use an Apple iPod, compared to 11% of all adults; 15% report using another brand of MP3 player, compared to 12% of all adults.

Meanwhile, nearly half of U.S. Hispanic adults report that they typically play the iPod very loud or somewhat loud, compared to 38 % of all adults who were polled last winter. As forlength of listening time, about half of U.S. Hispanic adults report listening for 1-4 hours, with another 4% reporting they listen for 4 hours or more. Comparatively, 38% of all adults report listening for 1-4 hours, with another 15% listening for 4 hours or more (92% of U.S. Hispanic adults report they listen for 30 minutes to 1 hour, 1-4 hours, or 4 hours or more; for all adults, the figure is 84%).

Additionally, the polling indicates that Hispanic adults in the United States may have a higher rate of hearing loss symptoms, though the cause of the symptoms is not established. For example, 30% report they turn up the volume on their TV sets and radios, compared to 26% of all adults. Moreover, they indicate that they are more likely to say "what" or "huh" during conversations.

ASHA encourages the public to see a certified audiologist if they are experiencing hearing loss symptoms.

"Louder and longer is not an advisable way to use personal audio technology," according to Alina Paz, an ASHA member and a certified audiologist and speech-language pathologist with Miami Dade County Public Schools. "Eventually, that increases the risk of noise-induced hearing loss, which is permanent."

Elsewhere, significant percentages of adults polled in Puerto Rico and Mexico report they are listening to iPods, MP3 players, and the like for 1-4 hours and for 4 hours or more at a time. For example, 69% of Puerto Rican respondents report listening to iPods for those lengths of time; for Mexican respondents, the figure is 72%. Also, nearly 60 % of the former report listening to the iPod somewhat loud or very loud, while the percentage for Mexican respondents is 36%. Also, more than 60% of Mexican respondents report using their iPod at medium volume, nearly twice the percentage for Puerto Ricans.

The polling of U.S. Hispanic adults consisted of a national telephone survey during the first week of October 2006; the results reflect a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percentage points. The polling of U.S. Hispanic teens, also a national telephone survey, occurred October 20-23, 2006. Its results have an error margin of +/- 5.7 percentage points.

The polling in Puerto Rico and Mexico was web-based. The former occurred October 17-30, 2006; the latter, October 17-25, 2006. The margin of error is +/- 4.1 percentage points.

For complete information about the polling, visit www.asha.org. The first of its kind, the polling is the latest aspect of America: Tuned In Today...But Tuned Out Tomorrow?, a public education campaign ASHA launched at the beginning of 2006. The initiative encourages safe usage of personal audio technology, recommending safety steps such as keeping volume levels within the maximum safe limit of 85 decibels and limiting listening time.

Recent research on the sound output levels of the iPod and other MP3 players suggests that the devices produce high enough sound levels to pose a risk of hearing loss if used at high enough volumes for extended durations. In addition, another new study of how the type ofearphone one uses affects the risk of noised-induced hearing loss found that the amount of sound isolation provided by the earphones in noisy listening environments allowed study subjects to choose lower sound levels.

Information about the availability of sound-isolating earphones can be found at a new special ASHA bilingual website for young children, parents, and educators, www.listentoyourbuds.org, as the use of the equipment is an ASHA campaign recommendation. Yet, according to the new polling, 84% of U.S. adult Hispanics have not purchased the earphones, a percentage slightly higher than the 81% figure for all adults in the United States. U.S. Hispanic teens and all teens in the United States responded similarly. Also, in Puerto Rico as well as Mexico, a majority of polled adults reports that they have not purchased them.

One of the researchers who was involved with both aforementioned studies-Brian J. Fligor, Director of Diagnostic Audiology, Children's Hospital, Boston-was among the experts on hand today when ASHA released the results of its most recently commissioned polling at a press conference in Miami where the organization's 2006 annual convention is set to begin (November 16-18, 2006, Miami Beach Convention Center).

ASHA's long-standing commitment to multicultural and international outreach is one of the reasons why it pursued the polling, according to ASHA 2006 President Alex Johnson, PhD, Professor and Chair of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Wayne State University, Detroit. At 43 million, or 15% of the U.S. population, Hispanics are the largest minority in the country. By 2043, they will represent nearly one quarter of the U.S. population.

"Personal audio technology has obvious cross-cultural and cross-border popularity," Dr. Johnson says. "We are acting on the responsibility we believe we have to get our message of safe usage out, and especially now, on the eve of the holiday shopping season. Moreover, with ASHA's Convention set to open in Miami, it is an opportune time to reach out to the Hispanic community with our message. We encourage the media to attend the educational sessions at our Convention to get a fuller picture of what is involved and at stake when there is a potential risk of hearing loss."

More broadly, Johnson calls for more rigorous scientific study of the impact of the technology on hearing; developing devices that indicate when users are putting their hearing at risk; and inviting other organizations and companies to join with ASHA in its public education campaign.

ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 123,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders. For more information on noise and hearing loss or other communication disorders, visit ASHA at www.asha.org or call 1-800-638-8255 (TALK).

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Editor's Note: Interview with experts and the full report of the polling are available by contacting Mona Thomas at mthomas@asha.org, Doug Plesh at dplesh@asha.org, or Nancy Gibson at ngibson@asha.org. Full report of the polling is also available at www.asha.org