Effect of Using Earphones for Music‐Induced Hearing Impairment

Abstract

Objective: Noise-induced hearing losses (NIHL) have become more common among adolescents because of increased exposure to personal music players. Many adolescents used to listen to music by headphone. We aimed to assess whether the use of earphones has a significant effect on music-induced hearing impairment in teenage students. Method: This cross-sectional study recruited students who habitually listen to music in quiet environments. Listeners with use of earphone and desktop speaker were included. Pure tone audiometry (PTA), distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), and completed questionnaire were obtained. Cumulative noise exposure (CNE) was calculated by listening time and volume of using players. Results: A total of 105 subjects were analyzed. Mean age was 17.03 years. Sixty-eight subjects (67.76%) used earphones, and the others used desktop speakers. Mean of PTA at high frequency (average of 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz) was 8.97 dBHL (SD = 5.71). DPOAE amplitude level at high frequency was 19.87 dBSPL (SD = 5.11). Mean of CNE was 86.66 dB-year (SD = 12.14). There was a good dose-response relationship between CNE and DPOAE amplitude levels at high frequency ( P < .01). Under the similar CNE status, subjects with earphones had worse DPOAE amplitude levels than those with desktop speakers ( P < .05). Conclusion: This study identified that the use of earphones may affect the relationship between music exposure dose and NIHL at high frequency. To preserve hearing, teenage students should avoid using earphones to listen to music for long periods of time.