SOUND DISTRIBUTION FOR SAFE LISTENING IN ENTERTAINMENT VENUES: A REVIEW OF EXISTING POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

The purpose of this report is to review the literature on sound distribution in entertainment venues as it pertains to safe-listening practices; that is, the enjoyment of amplified sound without endangerment to hearing health. The report was put together at the request of the Ear and Hearing Care team at the World Health Organization (WHO), as part of a wider body of work to inform the development of a regulatory framework for control of sound exposure in recreational settings. By sound distribution, we refer to the uniformity (or otherwise) of sound levels throughout a venue, as results from the interaction between the design and operation of the electroacoustic soundreinforcement system and the acoustical characteristics of the venue. It is important to note that the risk of sound-induced hearing injury is ultimately determined by the sound pressure level (SPL) at a listener’s eardrums, combined with the duration of the exposure. Sound distribution cannot affect “what is safe” in this respect. Sound distribution does, however, play a key role in determining whether safe listening conditions will be achieved for all members of an audience, or for some, but not others. Good sound distribution may also be a pre-requisite to be able to comply with safe-listening regulations in practice. In the present report, we review the evidence-base on sound distribution in entertainment venues in the context of existing “safe-listening” policies and regulations from around the world. We critically review requirements of such policies and regulations that relate to sound distribution, drawing on peer-reviewed literature, theory and calculation to assess their expected effectiveness.