Hearing status of French youth aged from 18 to 24 years in 1997: a cross-sectional epidemiological study in the selection centres of the army in Vincennes and Lyon

Background: It is currently thought that young adults are at increasing ris k of exposure to deleterious sources of noise. To test this possibility we have assessed hearing status of young French men aged between 18 and 24 yea rs in 1997 and study risk factors of deafness in a cross-sectional epidemio logical study at selection centres for aptitudes to National Service. Methods: During the time of the study, 1208 subjects were examined. For eac h subject, data of an interview, an otoscopy and audiograms were collected. We compared hearing thresholds between subjects with different noise expos ures and we determined risk factors of deafness in this population. Results: The prevalence of hearing loss was 9% at medium frequencies (0.5-2 kHz) and 15% at high frequencies (4-8 kHz). We found that 60% of the subje cts were regularly exposed to at least one source of loud noise. Acoustic t rauma (6%) mostly explained hearing losses. Repeated episodes of otitis med ia in childhood (17%) also emerged as an important risk factor apparently d ue to increased sensitivity to noise. In subjects with antecedent of otitis media, hearing impairments were significant in personal stereo users (>1 h our per day) (p<0.001), in those who went to discos and rock concerts (>2 t imes per month) (p=0.01) and in those who worked in noisy places (p=0.01). In contrast, in subjects without antecedent of otitis, we found no differen ce in hearing thresholds between noise exposed and non noise exposed subjec ts. Conclusions: Loud sound exposure is a true risk factor of early deafness in subjects that had had repeated episodes of otitis media in childhood. This study stresses the need for both prevention policies and information of he alth professionals and practitioners.