Total leisure noise exposure and its association with hearing loss among adolescents.

Objective: To investigate total leisure noise exposure among adolescents and to assess its association with hearing.

Design: Based on self-reported time spent on 19 leisure activities and associated mean sound pressure levels reported in the literature, total leisure noise exposure was evaluated and compared to noise at work limits (> 85 dB(A) = hazardous) in a cross-sectional survey. Tympanometry and pure-tone audiometry was performed in sound isolated rooms.