Influence of noise load when using audio headphones on the psycho-physiological state of young people

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Every modern person, especially residents of cities and metropolitan areas, is exposed daily to numerous negative factors. One of the most significant factors is noise and loud sounds. In addition to industrial noise, many people voluntarily increase the noise load through headphones, which affects negatively not only the auditory function but also the psycho-emotional and psycho-physiological state while listening to loud music. In addition to a direct effect on the ears, loud sounds affect the central nervous system, various parts of the brain, change the normal processes of higher nervous activities, and lead to impaired cognitive functions.
 AIM: The study aimed to examine the effect of using various portable electronic devices equipped with headphones on the psycho-physiological state of young people.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in 20182019 at the Department of Hygiene of the Izhevsk State Medical Academy. The survey involved 440 school and university students aged 1022 years. All respondents were distributed into two groups depending on the use of headphones. The survey was conducted using a developed questionnaire consisting of 24 questions with pre-formulated answers.
 RESULTS: Adverse psycho-physiological manifestations, as well as impaired cognitive functions of the brain, are registered among people who regularly use headphones 2.6 and 3.8 times more often, respectively, than those students who do not use audio headphones in everyday life. The high level of negative psycho-physiological manifestations and impairments of cognitive functions is due to the use of audio headphones at a volume significantly higher than normal values.
 CONCLUSIONS: Daily uncontrolled use of portable electronic devices equipped with headphones has a negative effect not only on the psycho-physiological state but also on the cognitive functions of the brain of young people.