Hearing status amongst medical trainees using personal listening devices: a concern or an overlooked hazard to hearing health?

OBJECTIVES

Increased use of personal listening devices such as headphones and earphones can lead to noise-induced hearing loss, especially with prolonged use and high volume. This study aimed to assess hearing status among medical trainees and its relationship with unsafe personal listening device usage.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study was conducted among 177 medical trainees at a medical college in Western Rajasthan. An online questionnaire assessed personal listening device usage patterns, and hearing status was evaluated.

RESULTS

Most preferred in-the-ear personal listening devices (78 per cent) at moderately loud volume (61.6 per cent) for more than 1 hour daily (58.2 per cent). Although 54.2 per cent reported slight hearing loss in at least one ear, no significant association was found between hearing loss and personal listening device type, volume or duration. However, hearing loss was significantly higher in males than females.

CONCLUSION

Contrary to earlier studies, no significant relationship was observed between personal listening device usage patterns and hearing loss, highlighting the need for larger studies using standardised sound exposure assessments.