Auditory Changes as Early Markers of Hearing Loss in Individuals Using Personal Music Devices

Abstract

Personal Music Devices (PMDs) among young adults have raised concerns regarding early signs of auditory changes that can lead to permanent Hearing Loss (HL). The present study was aimed to investigate the frequency and severity of self-perceived auditory symptoms due to PMD use and its relationship to the duration of exposure. An online survey of 63 PMD users aged 18-30 years was carried out. Participants were divided into four groups according to the duration of PMD use per day: >5 hr/day (n = 6), 3–5 hr/day (n = 14), 1–3 hr/day (n = 17), and <1 hr/day (n = 26). The auditory symptoms included tinnitus, muffled hearing, ear fullness, difficulty hearing in noise, hyperacusis, and need for increased volume over time. Structured rating scales were used to measure the frequency and severity of the symptoms. Differences were found in the frequency of difficulty hearing in noise (H = 8.545, p = 0.036), hyperacusis (H = 8.484, p = 0.037), and need for increased volume over time (H = 8.900, p = 0.031). Severity of hyperacusis was found to have significant association with the duration of PMD use with highest severity (H = 8.425, p = 0.038) in the group with PMD usage for >5 hours per day. Tinnitus, muffled hearing, and ear fullness were found not to be significant. The results of present study indicated that prolonged PMD use is related to early signs of auditory changes that can lead to permanent HL, highlighting the necessity to consider subclinical auditory symptoms as early warning signs for the onset of Noise Induced HL (NIHL).