Effects of personal listening devices on ear
European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine,
2023, Volume 10, Issue 3, Pages 1335-1341
Abstract
Attempts have been made to analyse the relation between hearing loss according to type of device and duration of device within a students of PCMS and RC. This study was undertaken at tertiary care centre for better understanding of students listening habits and compare it with normal individuals who do not use personal listening devices.Methodology: This study was conducted as an cross sectional comparative study on students studying in People’s College of Medical Science and Research Center, Bhopal, during the study period of 18 months. All the cases (PLD users) and controls (Non PLD users) were subjected to history taking and detailed clinical examination. All the cases and controls were subjected to pure tone audiometry test.
Results: This study was conducted on a total of 1000 students, of them, 500 were PLD users and remaining 500 were non PLD users. We observed no significant difference in age composition, sex and religion between the groups (p>0.05).Most common PLD used by students was ear plugs with majority of them using it for 2-3 hours per day above warning sign for more than 4 years and most common presenting symptoms was ear pain and headache. We observed a strong positive correlation of type of device, duration of device in years and hours and volume of device according to hearing loss.( P value significant)
Conclusions: According to our study head phones and ear plugs are safer PLD as compare to buds. PLD users may present with wide variety of otologic symptoms ranging from ear pain, headache to tinnitus and reduced hearing alone or in combination. PLD use is associated with accumulation of wax, tortuosity in EAC and otomycosis. Among PLD users, threshold of hearing is increased even if the users are not aware regarding their hearing status. Hearing loss of both the type i.e. sensorineural and conductive hearing loss, though mild is associated with PLD use. Here we concluded that PLDs should be used with caution, limit their duration of use and volume and keeping a watch on warning signs and symptoms
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