Leisure noise exposure and hearing outcomes among Canadians aged 6 to 79 years.

Objective: To examine the association between individual and cumulative leisure noise exposure in addition to acceptable yearly exposure (AYE) and hearing outcomes among a nationally representative sample of Canadians.

Design: Audiometry, distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and in-person questionnaires were used to evaluate hearing and leisure noise exposure across age, sex, and household income/education level. High-risk cumulative leisure noise exposure was defined as 85 dBA or greater for 40 h or more per week, with AYE calculations also based on this occupational limit.

Personal listening device usage among Canadians and audiometric outcomes among 6-29 year olds.

Objective: To describe personal listening device (PLD) usage and sociodemographic variables among a nationally representative sample of Canadians and examine audiometric outcomes among a subsample.

Design: Audiometry and in-person questionnaires were used to evaluate hearing and PLD usage across age, sex, household income/education level. PLD exposure was quantified using a common occupational noise limit.

Prevalence of loud leisure noise activities among a representative sample of Canadians aged 6-79 years.

This population-based study estimates the prevalence of loud leisure noise exposure and hearing protection usage among Canadians, as well as the population potentially at-risk using an occupational limit of 85 dBA, LEX 40 h, which denotes a typical occupational noise limit for a 40 hour work week. A total of 10 460 participants, aged 6-79 years, completed a Canadian Health Measures Survey household questionnaire. Loud leisure noise was defined by vocal effort required while communicating at arm's length except for loud personal listening device (PLD) usage with earbuds/headphones, which included both volume setting and vocal effort.

Survey of reported eye injuries from handheld laser devices in Canada.

Background: Unprotected exposure to handheld lasers can cause temporary or permanent vision loss depending on the laser classification.

Objective: To evaluate the occurrence of, and details associated with, reported eye injuries resulting from handheld lasers.

Methods: A 14-item questionnaire developed by Health Canada was distributed by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society and the Canadian Association of Optometrists to their respective members.

Wind turbine audibility calculations inside dwellings.

The objective of the current paper was to characterize indoor wind turbine sound pressure levels (SPLs) to assess the audibility of wind turbine noise indoors, accounting for window opening, frequency spectra, and presbycusis. Loudspeaker generated noise was used to determine the outdoor to indoor SPL differences at 11 representative dwellings using ISO 140-5:1998. The procedure was extended to 16 Hz.

Prevalence of laser beam exposure and associated injuries.

Background: An increasing number of consumer laser products are available to Canadians, many being purchased from online retailers. Of particular concern are high-powered, handheld laser devices. This study was conducted to assess the impact of this influx of laser products on the number of laser-associated injuries in Canada.

Tanning equipment use: 2014 Canadian Community Health Survey.

Background: Tanning equipment use is related to the early onset of cancer, with the risk increasing as the duration and repetition of exposure increase. In 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified tanning equipment use as carcinogenic to humans, and according to the World Health Organization, the risk of skin melanoma increases significantly when use begins before age 35.

Data And Methods: The rapid response component of the 2014 Canadian Community Health Survey collected data on the use of tanning equipment in the previous 12 months, including reasons for use, frequency/duration of use, precautions taken, and adverse reactions or injuries.

Prevalence of Hazardous Occupational Noise Exposure, Hearing Loss, and Hearing Protection Usage Among a Representative Sample of Working Canadians.

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hearing loss (HL), self-reported occupational noise exposure, and hearing protection usage among Canadians.

Methods: In-person household interviews were conducted with 3666 participants, aged 16 to 79 years (1811 males) with 94% completing audiometry and distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) evaluations. Occupational noise exposure was defined as hazardous when communicating with coworkers at an arm's length distance required speaking in a raised voice.

Prevalence of Hearing Loss Among a Representative Sample of Canadian Children and Adolescents, 3 to 19 Years of Age.

Objectives: There are no nationally representative hearing loss (HL) prevalence data available for Canadian youth using direct measurements. The present study objectives were to estimate national prevalence of HL using audiometric pure-tone thresholds (0.5 to 8 kHz) and or distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) for children and adolescents, aged 3 to 19 years.

Estimating annoyance to calculated wind turbine shadow flicker is improved when variables associated with wind turbine noise exposure are considered.

The Community Noise and Health Study conducted by Health Canada included randomly selected participants aged 18-79 yrs (606 males, 632 females, response rate 78.9%), living between 0.25 and 11.

Self-reported and measured stress related responses associated with exposure to wind turbine noise.

The current study was the first to assess stress reactions associated with wind turbine noise (WTN) exposure using self-reported and objective measures. Randomly selected participants, aged 18-79 yr (606 males; 632 females), living between 0.25 and 11.

Personal and situational variables associated with wind turbine noise annoyance.

The possibility that wind turbine noise (WTN) affects human health remains controversial. The current analysis presents results related to WTN annoyance reported by randomly selected participants (606 males, 632 females), aged 18-79, living between 0.25 and 11.

Exposure to wind turbine noise: Perceptual responses and reported health effects.

Health Canada, in collaboration with Statistics Canada, and other external experts, conducted the Community Noise and Health Study to better understand the impacts of wind turbine noise (WTN) on health and well-being. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out between May and September 2013 in southwestern Ontario and Prince Edward Island on 1238 randomly selected participants (606 males, 632 females) aged 18-79 years, living between 0.25 and 11.

Wind turbine sound pressure level calculations at dwellings.

This paper provides calculations of outdoor sound pressure levels (SPLs) at dwellings for 10 wind turbine models, to support Health Canada's Community Noise and Health Study. Manufacturer supplied and measured wind turbine sound power levels were used to calculate outdoor SPL at 1238 dwellings using ISO [(1996). ISO 9613-2-Acoustics] and a Swedish noise propagation method.

Wind turbine sound power measurements.

This paper provides experimental validation of the sound power level data obtained from manufacturers for the ten wind turbine models examined in Health Canada's Community Noise and Health Study (CNHS). Within measurement uncertainty, the wind turbine sound power levels measured using IEC 61400-11 [(2002). (International Electrotechnical Commission, Geneva)] were consistent with the sound power level data provided by manufacturers.

Effects of Wind Turbine Noise on Self-Reported and Objective Measures of Sleep.

Study Objectives: To investigate the association between self-reported and objective measures of sleep and wind turbine noise (WTN) exposure.

Methods: The Community Noise and Health Study, a cross-sectional epidemiological study, included an in-house computer-assisted interview and sleep pattern monitoring over a 7 d period. Outdoor WTN levels were calculated following international standards for conditions that typically approximate the highest long-term average levels at each dwelling.

Prevalence of hearing loss among Canadians aged 20 to 79: Audiometric results from the 2012/2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey.

Background: In Canada, population-level estimates of hearing loss have been based on self-reported data, yielding estimates of 4% or 5%. Self-reported hearing difficulties may result in underestimates of hearing loss, particularly among people with mild loss and among older adults.

Data And Methods: The 2012/2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey (cycle 3) collected audiometric and self-reported data to estimate the prevalence of hearing loss and limitations in a population-based sample of Canadians aged 20 to 79.

An assessment of quality of life using the WHOQOL-BREF among participants living in the vicinity of wind turbines.

Living within the vicinity of wind turbines may have adverse impacts on health measures associated with quality of life (QOL). There are few studies in this area and inconsistent findings preclude definitive conclusions regarding the impact that exposure to wind turbine noise (WTN) may have on QOL. In the current study (officially titled the Community Noise and Health Study or CNHS), the World Health Organization QOL-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire provided an evaluation of QOL in relation to WTN levels among randomly selected participants aged 18-79 (606 males, 632 females) living between 0.

Audiometric thresholds and portable digital audio player user listening habits.

Objective: To examine the relationship between portable digital audio player listening behaviours and (1) measured sound pressure levels, (2) audiometric measures, (3) self-reported hearing loss symptoms.

Design: A questionnaire to evaluate listening behaviours, including self-reported hearing loss symptoms and listening duration/volume settings. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between these variables, audiometric evaluation, calculated exposure levels, Lex(8hr), and measured sound pressure levels, Leq(32sec).

Audiometric thresholds among a Canadian sample of 10 to 17 year old students.

A total of 237 students, 10 to 17 years of age, from 14 schools underwent hearing evaluations. Otoscopic examination, tympanometry and air-conduction pure tone audiometry was conducted at low (0.5, 1, 2 kHz) and high (4 and 8 kHz) frequencies.

MP3 player listening sound pressure levels among 10 to 17 year old students.

Using a manikin, equivalent free-field sound pressure level measurements were made from the portable digital audio players of 219 subjects, aged 10 to 17 years (93 males) at their typical and "worst-case" volume levels. Measurements were made in different classrooms with background sound pressure levels between 40 and 52 dBA. After correction for the transfer function of the ear, the median equivalent free field sound pressure levels and interquartile ranges (IQR) at typical and worst-case volume settings were 68 dBA (IQR = 15) and 76 dBA (IQR = 19), respectively.

A systematic review of interventions to improve handwriting.

Background: Handwriting difficulties are among the most common reasons for referral of children to occupational therapy.

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of handwriting interventions.

Methods: A systematic review was carried out.