Plugged in and Tuned out: Earphone Usage and Its Impact on Young Adults in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Roshan, D. and Jayapriya, D. and Mohanam, T. C. Vikram Raj (2025) Plugged in and Tuned out: Earphone Usage and Its Impact on Young Adults in a Tertiary Care Hospital. INDIAN JOURNAL OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY AND HEAD & NECK SURGERY, 77.0 (12). pp. 5571-5576. ISSN 2231-3796

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Abstract

The rising use of earphones among young adults has raised concerns over early-onset noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). To assess the prevalence and severity of hearing loss in young adult earphone users and its association with listening volume, duration, and years of usage. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with 350 participants aged 18-25 years at a tertiary care hospital. Data were gathered via structured questionnaires and pure tone audiometry. Overall, 17.6% of participants had bilateral mild sensorineural hearing loss, and 32% showed a 4 kHz dip-an early indicator of NIHL. Hearing loss was more prevalent among in-ear device users and those with 4-7 years of earphone usage. No significant associations were found between gender or preferred volume and hearing loss severity. Prolonged earphone use, especially with in-ear devices and over several years, is significantly associated with early NIHL. Public awareness, safe listening practices, and regular audiometric screening are vital preventive measures.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Earphones, Hearing loss, Noise-induced hearing loss, Audiometry, Young adults
Subjects: Medicine > Surgery
Divisions: Medicine > Aarupadai Veedu Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry, India > Otorhinolaringology
Depositing User: Unnamed user with email techsupport@mosys.org
Last Modified: 06 Feb 2026 06:49
URI: https://ir.vmrfdu.edu.in/id/eprint/5833

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