The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor worked with Apple to analyze thousands of iPhone and Apple Watch users in the U.S., according to a March 2 news release. The findings are being shared with the World Health Organization’s Make Listening Safe initiative.
Around 10 percent of participants have hearing loss diagnosed by a professional, with 75 percent of those participants not using assistive support like a hearing aid.
Seven study findings:
- Fifty percent of participants had their hearing checked in the last 10 years.
- Twenty-five percent of participants experience daily environmental sound exposure, such as traffic noises or heavy machinery, which is higher than the WHO’s recommended limit.
- Nearly 50 percent of participants work, or previously worked, in loud environments.
- Headphone exposure for 1 in 10 participants is higher than the WHO’s recommended limit.
- Twenty percent of participants showed signs of hearing loss based on WHO standards, compared to the 10 percent professionally diagnosed.
- Ten percent of participants have hearing loss consistent with noise exposure.
- Twenty-five percent of participants experience ringing in their ears at least a few times per week.
To read the full release, click here.
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