Does prolonged exposure to noise levels below damage risk criteria increase listening effort and fatigue?

Abstract

Background: Exposure to hazardous levels of noise is a major aetiology of disabling hearing loss. The impact of noise exposure is seen even in individuals exposed to noise levels considered safe for human listening (Thompson et al., 2022). Maruthy et al. (2018) reported that individuals exposed to noise levels below DRC experience poor stream segregation and working memory skills. These individuals may also be experiencing increased listening effort and subsequent listening fatigue. However, no empirical evidence exists to prove the same. Aim: The study aimed to understand listening-related effort and fatigue in individuals exposed to noise levels below damage risk criteria. Method: A total of 48 individuals in the age range of 18 to 50 years participated in the study. They were divided into two groups – the Noise Exposed Group and the Noise Unexposed Group. Data collection was carried out in three steps. measurement of ambient noise, gathering demographic information, and audiological evaluation and measurement of listening effort and fatigue. Listening effort was measured using dual task paradigm and listening fatigue was measured using Vanderbilt Fatigue Scale-Adult version-40 items (VFS-A-40) in Kannada. Results: The result revealed that there was a significant difference in listening effort and fatigue between the noise-exposed group and the noise-unexposed group. Conclusion: Prolonged exposure to noise level below Damage risk Criteria can also result in increased listening effort and fatigue. This could possibly be the result of deficits in higher auditory processing due to prolonged exposure to noise.