People regularly exposed to loud noise over several years are about 1.5 times more likely to develop a benign tumor called an acoustic neuroma that causes hearing loss, new research found.The study by Ohio State University researchers included 146 people with acoustic neuroma and 564 people without the tumor. All were interviewed about their history of exposure to loud noise (at least 80 decibels -- the sound of city traffic) from machinery, power tools, construction, motors, music, screaming children, or at sports events or in restaurants and bars.The study participants were also asked about their use of hearing protection.People exposed to loud music were 2.5 times more likely to develop acoustic neuroma, while those exposed to machines, power tools and/or construction were 1.8 times more likely to develop the tumor. Exposure to motors increased risk by 1.3 times while regular exposure to screaming children, sports events and/or bars and restaurants increased the risk by 1.4 times, the researchers said.The number of years that a person was exposed to any kind of loud noise also influenced risk. Five years of regular exposure to loud noise was associated with a 1.5 times increased risk of acoustic neuroma, the researchers said.The study also found that the use of hearing protection offers significant protection against developing this kind of tumor. People who protected their hearing from loud noise had the same risk as people who weren’t exposed to loud noise. And they were half as likely to develop acoustic neuroma as people who didn’t use hearing protection when exposed to loud noise.The findings appear in the current online edition of the American Journal of Epidemiology and will appear in the Feb. 15 print issue of the journal.
