A Prospective Assessment of Hearing Threshold Variability in Personal Listening Device Users

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Public Health
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Increasing use of personal listening devices (PLDs) among young adults raises concerns about auditory health.
• Prolonged exposure to high-intensity recreational sound is a risk factor for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
• Limited longitudinal data exists on the combined effects of listening duration and volume on hearing thresholds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively assess hearing threshold variability in PLD users over 18 months.
• To examine the dose-dependent effects of earphone usage duration and listening volume.
• To identify modifiable risk factors for auditory decline in young adults.

Main Methods:

• A prospective longitudinal study involving 100 participants aged 18-25 years over 18 months.
• Participants categorized into four groups based on daily earphone usage duration (1-2h, 2-4h, >4h, and control).
• Groups stratified by listening volume intensity (<60%, 60-80%, >80%); audiological evaluation via pure-tone audiometry at baseline and 6, 12, 18 months.

Main Results:

• Progressive increase in mean hearing thresholds observed in earphone users, most notably in the >4h/day group.
• Hearing threshold shifts showed a dose-dependent pattern, increasing with duration and volume.
• Higher listening volume (>80%) significantly correlated with greater auditory decline and symptoms like tinnitus and ear pain.

Conclusions:

• Prolonged and high-volume in-ear earphone use is linked to progressive hearing threshold shifts in young adults.
• Listening duration and volume intensity are significant modifiable risk factors for NIHL.
• Emphasizes the need for safe listening practices, auditory screening, and public health awareness to mitigate risks associated with PLD use.