Risk Factors for Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions in Young Adults

Peter Torre,Mark B Reed

doi:10.3390/app9081608

Abstract

Young adults with normal hearing may exhibit risk factors for hearing loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how self-reported personal music (PM) system volume use, preferred listening level, and self-reported alcohol use affects distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). Two-hundred, sixteen young adults, 161 women and 55 men, participated. Questionnaire data included the PM system and alcohol use. DPOAEs were obtained from 1–6 kHz and collapsed into 1/3rd octave bands and a probe microphone was used to determine preferred listening level. Alcohol was defined as drinks per month (DPM), categorized as No, Light (≤14), and Heavy (>14). Men who reported loud/very loud volume use had statistically significant lower DPOAEs at 1.5, 2, and 3 kHz than men who reported lower volume use. Light and Heavy DPM men had lower DPOAEs at 1.5, 2, and 3 kHz than no DPM men, but this was not statistically significant. There were no DPOAE differences for either variable in women and there was no association between preferred listening level and DPOAEs for women or men. Men who reported loud/very loud volume use and any DPM had poorer mid-frequency DPOAEs. There was not an association for volume use or DPM and DPOAEs in women.

Highlights

There is an increase in the research involving young adults, their use of personal music (PM)systems with earphones, and the possible effects on the auditory system
In this study of over 200 young adults with normal hearing, almost 35% reported listening to a PM system with earphones at a loud or very loud volume while almost 25% reported that when using
Approximately 35% of young, college-aged adults in the current study reported listening to a PM system at a loud or very loud volume the mean preferred listening level would not be considered a hazardous level

Summary

Introduction

Systems with earphones, and the possible effects on the auditory system. Exposure to recreational noise has risen significantly because of the high percentage of young, college-aged adults (between 90–95%). Who report using digital PM systems [1,2]. Listening habits of young adults, using questionnaire data has been obtained [1,2,3,4,5]. Portnuff et al [5] did find that young adults reported, on average, over 14 h a week of listening to a PM system with earphones. PM system use with earphones is a recreational noise exposure that is an intermittent and variable exposure unlike occupational noise exposure; the level at which this use occurs is a critical component

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