(PP1111) Pediatric Noise Exposure and Socioeconomic Status

Pediatric Noise Exposure and Socioeconomic Status

Given the consequences of noise exposure on the pediatric population, it is critical to assess the risks associated with infant sound machines and smartphone applications. This study will determine if the levels of infant sound machines and smartphone applications are dangerously loud and if there is a relationship between socioeconomic status and use of infant sound machines and smartphone applications. Measurements were taken with a sound level meter of 4 infant sleep machines, and 4 smartphone applications. A parent/caretaker survey is underway to assess risk for noise exposure and socioeconomic status; results are pending.

Summary: 

Pediatric Noise Exposure and Socioeconomic Status

Rationale/

Purpose:  Noise can produce long-term effects on hearing and neurodevelopmental outcomes. One potential source of noise exposure in infants and young children is infant sleep machines (ISMs). Infant sleep machines or smartphone applications that play noise for the purposes of lulling infants and children to sleep have a wide range of stimuli and variable volume settings. Given the consequences of noise exposure to the pediatric population, it is important to assess the risks associated with noise exposure due to infant sleep machines or phone applications.

One study (Hugh, S. C. et al., 2014) described infant sleep machines as devices that produce ambient noise to mask other sounds in an infant’s room with the goal of increasing uninterrupted sleep. They measured sound levels of 14 ISMs played at maximum volume at several distances (30, 100, and 200 cm from the machine) using correction factors to account for a 6-month-old’s ear canal. The conclusion of the study was that ISMs can produce output sound pressure levels that may be damaging to infant hearing and auditory development.

Socioeconomic status has been shown to be inversely correlated with speech and language development (Betty Hart et al., 2003). Previous work has suggested not only a higher prevalence of hearing loss in low-income households but also potential disparity in the likelihood of cochlear implantation (R.E Stern et al., 2005). This study will aim to determine if there is a correlation between socioeconomic status and increased risk of pediatric noise exposure.

This study will be conducted in the form of a human subject research survey for parents/caretakers to determine:

1) If the levels of ISMs and smartphone apps are dangerously loud. This will be measured via parent report and acoustic measurement and compared to the NIOSH standards of safe noise exposure.

2) If there is a correlation between the socioeconomic status and the use of infant sleep machines versus smart phone apps. I postulate that this study will find a strong positive correlation between low socioeconomic status and increased risk of pediatric noise exposure.

Methods:  I plan to administer a RedCap survey with 22 questions to multiple childcare facilities by emailing the survey link to facility coordinators. Several measurements have already been conducted with a sound level meter of 4 ISMs, and 4 sound generating applications at the ETSU Marshall T. Nave Center in Elizabethton, Tennessee inside a soundproof booth at 3 different distances: 30 cm (1 ft), 100 cm (3.3 ft) and 200 cm (6.6 ft). (Hugh, S. C. et al., 2014)

This study will be completed to provide educational resources for parents/caregivers who may be unaware of the potential risk of pediatric noise exposure in using ISMs and noise-generating applications from smartphone devices to help their children get to sleep at night. Providing families of all socioeconomic backgrounds with information for protecting their childrens’ hearing is the goal of the study.

Results:  A parent/caretaker survey is underway to assess risk for noise exposure and socioeconomic status; results are pending.