Evaluation of an online intervention to promote hearing protective behavior in young people

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a new online behavioral intervention (Listening type Check) as an extension to an online hearing test, to increase safe ear- and headphone use and change the underlying psychological factors in persons 16-21 years old.

An intensive longitudinal study with experimental design, using the experience sampling method, measured listening behavior and psychological factors two weeks before and after doing an online hearing test plus Listening type Check (intervention) or hearing test alone (control). Additionally, a process evaluation was performed.

Persons aged 16 to 21 years living in the Netherlands and using head- or earphones for at least one hour per week. Participants (n = 54) were on average 17 years old, 57% was male, and 90% theoretically educated.

Participants in the two weeks pre-intervention, used ear- or headphones for about 6 days a week, 2 h a day, mostly choosing a sound volume around 60% (on 0-100% scale). A loud volume (i.e. ≥60% when <18 years) was used for 40 min a day. These behaviors and underlying psychological factors did not change in the two weeks after doing the intervention.

Participation in a new online behavioral intervention plus online hearing test did not increase safe ear- and headphone use or change underlying psychological factors. Participants were primarily theoretically educated and exhibited relatively safe listening behavior at baseline, which may explain the absence of an intervention effect. A new effect study with vocationally educated participants or other high-risk groups is recommended.