Author Information
Kateřina Richterová, Masaryk University, Czech RepublicEliška Kotzianová, Fakultní Nemocnice Ostrava, Czech Republic
Abstract
Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common preventable cause of hearing loss in children, adolescents and adults. In 2015, WHO estimated that 1.1 billion adolescents and young adults were potentially at risk of hearing loss due to voluntary noise exposure during recreational activities (Dillard et al., 2022). In adults, noise-induced hearing loss is associated with an increased risk of social isolation, depression, cognitive decline and lower work performance. In children, it manifests itself in poorer school performance, impaired attention, increased fatigue and difficulties in communication and social relationships. The most effective ways to deal with this problem are prevention and early detection. The article deals with the issue of noise-induced hearing loss in children and adolescents. It summarizes the most important epidemiological data and shows how this diagnosis has an impact on the quality of life. It also presents the Dangerous Decibels® program, which was evaluated and implemented in the Czech environment. The program uses interactive teaching and focuses on three key strategies: reducing exposure time, increasing the distance from the noise source and using protective equipment. It thus seeks to change the knowledge, attitudes and behavior of students through education, visual demonstration and active participation. The evaluation results show that the Dangerous Decibels® program is effective in strengthening children's knowledge, attitudes and behavior towards hearing protection, both in the short term and with the effect maintained after three months. The paper will present the process of implementation and evaluation of the effectiveness of the program in the Czech environment.
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