On the occasion of the 19th National Hearing Day on March 10, the association publishes the results of an Ifop poll which reminds us that noise is a real nuisance. And that the French are more and more sensitive to it.
Noise, a real nuisance for the French
The majority of French people aged 15 and over (89%) think that noise represents a public health issue, especially since they feel more and more exposed.
This phenomenon is becoming more and more widespread with nearly 2 in 3 French people feeling more exposed to noise in their daily life than before. This rate tends to rise to 70% among people aged 50-74. More than 9 out of 10 French people say they are exposed every day to a noise which they consider excessive.
Almost all of the people polled (94%) think that noise has direct effects on health, of which almost half are strongly convinced (48%).
Young people and noise
This study tells us that the majority of young people (8 out of 10), aged 15 to 17, say they have difficulty following a conversation at school, that more than half of them (58%) of this same age group have the feeling of being subjected to the noise without being able to do anything. And almost all (81%) of 18-35 year olds are bothered by noise at their workplace.
However, they are not very active in protecting themselves. Indeed, a third of them (1 in 3 young people) say that noise educates the ear to get used to it. Almost 40% go so far as to think that the noise makes them euphoric. And only 1 in 3 young people admit to wearing hearing protection when faced with situations of excessive sound volumes (earplugs, headphones, hearing filters).
To inform the French of the risks of overexposure to noise and to the right tools to protect themselves from it, the JNA will broadcast three prevention spots aimed at young people, workers and retirees with three messages: “I protect my ears”; “I take regular breaks”; “I have my hearing checked regularly”.
Read also:
Infographic: the key figures of hearing loss
Hearing: young people are still turning a deaf ear
Tinnitus: what tests should you do?
