Harris Poll Survey Reveals Hearing Health Lessons from the Hard-Rockin’ Woodstock Generation

A just-released Harris Poll survey on the hard-rocking Woodstock Generation has some important messages about hearing health that can benefit people of all ages. Dr. David Illich, Au.D. of Professional Hearing Associates, Inc. in Escondido, Oceanside, and Poway says the new study findings demonstrate the far-reaching consequences of loud music listening on hearing health. “Fifty years ago, many believed that turning up the volume and seeking out concerts with the biggest speakers contributed to music enjoyment,” Dr. David Illich, Au.D. explained. “Today, we know the long-term effects of noise on hearing health and the importance of protecting hearing to maintain not only the ability to enjoy music and conversation but overall quality of life.”

The Harris Poll survey, commission by Oticon, Inc., surveyed more than 1,000 US adults, ages 65-80, the Woodstock Generation, about music listening habits in their youth and their ability to hear and enjoy music today. The survey found that 47% of the Woodstock Generation who listened to loud or very loud music when they were in their teens and 20s now report hearing loss. The negative impact of hearing loss doesn’t end with music. The survey found that, at least sometimes, 52% of the Woodstock Generation have difficulty understanding what is being said in loud environments like busy restaurants and 40% miss words in conversations.

Dr. David Illich, Au.D. explains that noise above 85 decibels, about the level of heavy traffic or a gas mower, can contribute to hearing loss, and loud music is no exception. The National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders estimates that 15% of Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 have high frequency hearing loss that may have been caused by exposure to loud noise from the workplace or leisure activities.

Worried about your noise exposure? Dr. David Illich, Au.D. recommends regular hearing health checks for everyone and especially for those who experience hearing difficulty. A hearing evaluation is quick and painless. If a hearing loss is detected, there are many high-performance hearing aids that do more than amplify sound, like the new Oticon Opn S™.

“The ultra-fast sound processing of Opn S gives you access to a more complete range of sound, so you experience music and other sounds in your environment in a natural way,” Dr. David Illich, Au.D. points out. “Built-in internet connectivity lets you stream sound from your cell phone or from music devices directly to your hearing aid. Advantages people of any generation, including Woodstock-era adults, can appreciate!”

For more information on the Harris Poll survey, visit https://www.oticon.com/your-hearing/getting-help/the-woodstock-generation-and-hearing-loss.

To learn more about hearing health, hearing solutions and the new Oticon Opn S family of hearing aids, contact Professional Hearing Associates at (760) 940 – 0373 or visit hearinginfo.net.

Research Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by The Harris Poll between June 5 and June 12, 2019 on behalf of Oticon among 1,006 U.S. adults age 65-80 (“Woodstock Generation”) including 437 older adults with hearing loss. Data were statistically weighted where necessary by age, sex, education, race/ethnicity, region, income, household size, marital status, and employment status to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.