Noise induced hearing loss prevention for low vision teenagers

• Grant number: 14/14306-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2014
• End date: October 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Keila Alessandra Baraldi Knobel
• Grantee: Letícia Maria Malandrin da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Several studies have reported that children and adolescents have been exposed to hazardous levels of recreational and environmental sounds. As a consequence, studies increasingly find children and adolescents with non-normal high-frequency hearing with the characteristic of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The Dangerous Decibels® (DD) educational program (www.dangerousdecibels.org), translated and adapted to Brazilian children, uses educational outreach with the aim of reducing the incidence of NIHL. For individuals with low vision, hearing conservation is even more imperative. Objectives: (a) to identify, among adolescents with low vision, their knowledge, habits and preferences regarding noise exposure; (b) to adapt the DD educational program for adolescents with low vision; (c) to evaluate the accessibility of the adapted program. Methods: After adapting the DD educational session, five adolescents with low vision that participate in the Visual Deficient program of CEPRE will be invited to join the study. Participants will answer a questionnaire before and three months after participating in an adapted DD educational session. One week after the intervention participants will be encouraged to discuss their impressions about the educational session and its accessibility in a focus group. The session will recorded and its content will be analyzed.