Frequency of Hearing Impairment among Medical College Students in Peshawar, Pakistan: Insights from a Smartphone Used Survey

Abstract

Background: Hearing loss is a major public health concern affecting millions globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 billion young adults are at risk of developing hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices. This study utilizes smartphone-based technology to assess the hearing health of medical students in Peshawar.Objectives: The primary goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of hearing impairment among medical students and to pinpoint any probable causes of hearing loss in this student population.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 109 undergraduate medical students, assessed their hearing health using the HearWHO application, which assigns scores ranging from 0 to 100, categorized as i) above 75, ii) 50-75, iii) below 50.Results: A total of 109 students (54 males, 55 females; mean age: 21.89) were surveyed. On testing the hearing health of the participants with the HearWHO application, 12.8% (n=14) were in the category of scores above 75, 73.4% (n=80) were in the category of the score 50-75, and 13.8% (n=15) were in the category of the score below 50. 32.1% (n=35) were observed to be utilizing their personal audio devices (PADs) at a high volume.Conclusion: The survey highlighted varied PADs usage among participants, notably with many using PADs for long durations and at high volumes. These findings emphasize the need for monitoring and promoting safe PADs usage among young adults, potentially influencing hearing health promotion and prevention strategies.Keywords: Hearing impairment, Medical Students, Smartphone