Effects of aircraft noise on hearing ability of school-age children

Two hundred one cases with permanent bilateral high-frequency hearing loss and 208 controls with normal hearing were identified through the New York City hearing screening program. Aircraft noise exposure was estimated for the residences of cases and controls from Noise Exposure Forecast contour maps of the New York City airports. The noise exposure estimates had a correlation on 0.89 with noise level measurement made in the area. Birth certificates and questionnaires were used to provide additional information on other sources of noise exposure and potential confounders. The results showed a positive, but not statistically significant association between aircraft noise exposure and the risk of high-frequency hearing loss.