Effects of an Active Noise Control Technology Applied to Earphones on Preferred Listening Levels in Noisy Environments

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The harmful effects of frequent exposure to loud sounds through portable music players (PMPs) in combination with earphones have been suggested to result in a high prevalence of recreational noise-induced hearing loss among children, adolescents, and young adults. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of an active noise control technology applied to earphones on the preferred listening levels (PLLs) while listening to music in the presence of background noise. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three adults between 20 and 40 years with normal hearing were recruited for this study. PLLs for listening to pop-rock and classical music were measured in the participants’ ear canal with a commercially available PMP for four earphone/headphone configurations in quiet and noisy conditions. Ear canal insertion loss was measured in open ear conditions as well as earphone/headphone conditions. RESULTS: The average PLL while using earphones and headphones exceeded 85 dBA corresponding to the sound level to induce hearing damage, but in the case of canal earphones with noise cancelling (NC), it was below 75 dBA, corresponding to potentially harmful levels. The background subway noise significantly increased the PLL measured in quiet conditions using any four earphone/headphone types except canal earphones with NC. Canal earphones with NC showed the lowest PLLs compared with participants’ average PLLs using the other three earphone/headphone types. CONCLUSIONS: To minimize recreational noise exposure at the risk of PMP use, the use of earphones with NC is recommended in noisy environments.