Research - HEARsmart

Research

HEARsmart is made up of a group of research audiologists, psychologists, musicians, engineers and hearing health experts with many years of practical experience in measuring sound, assessing noise exposure, and uncovering people’s attitudes and motivations towards sound and hearing health.

Our current research is focused on:

  • Acoustic and in-venue assessment of filtered earplugs – see What Plug? released 2017;
  • Investigating sound levels and hearing health at Melbourne live music venues (funded through the Deafness Foundation, Victoria). We presented an academic poster on our early findings at the 2016 Audiology Australia Conference;
  • Study into the hearing health of sound engineers;
  • Looking at audiologist’s professional practice with members of the music industry; and
  • Ongoing analysis of the data from Sound Check Australia – a national noise and hearing survey undertaken as the 2012 ABC Citizen Science project. Over 8,000 people completed the survey and the vast information it’s delivering informs HEARsmart’s ongoing activities.

 

The HEARing CRC and its Members, particularly the National Acoustic Laboratories, have been talking about hearing loss and loud sound for the past decade. Previous research that led to the creation of HEARsmart is listed below. If you want to talk to us about any of the findings, just get in touch and we’d be delighted to share the details!

Papers

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

Publications

  • 2011: iHEAR report for the Department of Health by the National Acoustic Laboratories (Australian Hearing’s research arm) on the prevalence of hearing loss and its relationship to leisure-sound exposure;
  • 2010: Binge Listening is another report from the National Acoustic Laboratories reporting the significant impact of common leisure activities on the hearing of young Australians, including going to nightclubs, pubs and live concerts;
  • 2008: Is Australia Listening? a report from Australian Hearing found personal stereo use and listening volume to be a major concern for Australia’s hearing health; and
  • 2006: Listen HEAR! commissioned by the HEARing CRC and Vic Deaf, authored by Access Economics, that identified excessive loud noise exposure as a major cause of hearing loss in Australia.