The effects of university students' habit listening to music via headphones on hearing threshold: baskent university sample

Recently, people have shown a great interest in digital portable music players such as MP3 players, Ipods and mobile phones. Therefore, an increase has been observed in the rate of sound exposure. Correspondingly, millions of adolescent and youngsters have faced the risk of hearing loss. While the number of publications on the risk of permanent hearing loss that is caused by individual music players has been increasing, there is still deficiency about precaution and informing. In our study, individual earphones, high level voice that reaches directly to the ear in an unnatural way and accordingly hearing organ damage have been examined.The study has been conducted by Başkent University Medical Faculty Department of Otolaryngology Audiology Speech and Voice Disorders (Project no:KA10/155). In the study, a questionnaire about music listening habits has been conducted on 215 students studying at Başkent University. In the survey, 85 percent (%) of the students have stated that they use gadgets with earphones to listen to music. It has been determined that the students using a gadget with earphones listen to music in different time slots. 77 percent (%) of the students listen to music via earphones while travelling in city and out city. The ratio of music listening via earphones while studying is 33 percent (%). When the hours and days of the students? music listening via earphones are analysed, it has been determined that they listen to music via earphones, at least 2 or 3 hours every day. Most of the students that participated in the study listen to the music in medium or high levels. While there is no difference between the music listening habits of female and male students, it has been observed that more female students have participated in the study (109 female, 74 male). 76 percent (%) of the students that listen to music via earphones use in-ear earphone types. Whereas among male students, this ratio has increased up to 86 percent (%), among female students it is 62 percent (%). It has been determined that there is a relation between the gender and the choice of earphone. It has been determined that female students use in ear cannel earphones more than other earphone types.Students who listen to music via headphones have encountered some problems. The most encountered problem is tinnitus, headache and a feeling of congestion in the ears. 44 students have complained about tinnitus, 40 students have complained about headaches, and 32 students have complained about congestion in the ears. 80 students have not declared any complaints.It has been found out that there is a certain decrease in the decibel values of threshold of hearing in the high frequencies of the students who listen to music via headphones and whose audio logic measurements have been performed. When the exposure of the students? who participated in the study to the cumulative sound is considered, statistically meaningful decrease in 14 and 16 kHZ thresholds of hearing has been observed.The habit of listening to loud music might lead to progressive hearing loss. Longitudinal studies that determining the habit of listening to music and impact of it on the health should be designed young population.