Please note: This website has recently moved from www.health.gov to odphp.health.gov. www.health.gov is now the official website of ODPHP’s parent organization, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). Please update your bookmarks for easy access to all our resources. 

Increase the proportion of adults who use hearing protection devices around loud sounds — HOSCD‑08

Status: Baseline only

  
Image
Baseline only

Most Recent Data:
66.8 percent (2015-16) *

Target:
71.4 percent  *

Desired Direction:
Increase desired

Baseline:
66.8 percent of adults aged 20 to 69 years used hearing protection devices (i.e., earplugs, noise muffs (earmuffs), ear canal caps, or helmets) when exposed to loud sounds or music in 2015-16 *

Age adjusted to the year 2000 standard population.

Increase the proportion of adults who use hearing protection devices when exposed to loud sounds or music

Target-Setting Method
Minimal statistical significance

Summary

People who are around loud sounds are at risk for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Although NIHL is permanent, it’s almost always preventable by wearing hearing protection devices, like earplugs and earmuffs. Teaching people to use hearing protection devices properly can help reduce NIHL.