Audiological profile of young users of personal listening devices

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the audiological profile of young adults who make frequent use of personal listening devices and characterize their profile in relation to the use of the device. Methods: For this research 40 individuals have been assessed: 21 headphone users of some sort of sound device (research group) and 19 non users (control group), of both genders, with ages from 18 to 26 years. All subjects were submitted to pure-tone threshold, speech audiometry, acoustic immitance and transient evoked and distortion product otoacoustic emissions. It was also applied a questionnaire survey to characterize the profile of participants in relation to the use of the device. Results: The most common type of portable music player was the mobile phone, and the most common type of headphone was the earphone (insert type). The median frequency and duration of use was three hours per day, 6.5 days a week, during five years, with sound intensity level between 15% and 100% of the available by the equipment. The results of pure-tone threshold, speech audiometry and acoustic reflex thresholds are compatible to normality criteria adopted, in all participants, however, the pure-tone threshold (4000 and 6000 Hz) and speech audiometry of right ear were worst, with significant difference, for the participants who make use of personal listening device. Conclusion: The young adults who make frequent use of personal listening devices had normal sensitivity as defined by well-accepted criteria, but with worse results than those found in the control group participants.