Impact of Earphone Usage on the Auditory Perception of Medical Undergraduates: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Pure Tone Audiometry

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Harshitha Nookala, Dheeraj Neerati, Dr Pidakala Mary Moses, Dr Ahmed Abdul Majid

Abstract

Background: Hearing is essential for communication and professional life, especially for medical practitioners. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a growing concern among young adults due to unsafe listening practices, particularly the prolonged use of earphones/Bluetooth devices. This study investigates the impact of earphone usage on the hearing ability of undergraduate medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Mamata Academy of Medical Sciences, involving 100 undergraduate medical students. Data collection included a semi-structured questionnaire on earphone usage practices and pure tone audiometry (PTA) to assess hearing thresholds. Results: The study found that 7% of participants exhibited signs of noise-induced hearing loss, characterized by 4k dips in their audiograms. Prolonged earphone use (more than 1 hour per day) was associated with a higher risk of NIHL. Additionally, 1.1% of participants showed signs of sensorineural hearing loss. Conclusions: The study concludes that prolonged and unsafe earphone use can lead to hearing impairments in medical students. It emphasizes the importance of raising awareness among medical students about the risks associated with earphone use and promoting safe listening practices to prevent irreversible hearing damage.


 

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