Prolonged Use of Portable Listening Devices Among Medical Students in a Healthcare Institution in Puducherry: A Clinico-Audiological Study

Introduction Mobile phones are commonly used in daily life. Nowadays, many young adults listen to portable listening devices at high volumes for extended periods, resulting in prolonged exposure to loud noise. This can lead to hearing loss, which not only impacts the patient's quality of life but also interferes with their daily activities. Aim The aim of this study is to assess the clinical impact of portable listening devices by examining clinical symptoms and findings among medical students who use these devices and evaluating their hearing thresholds. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre in Puducherry, India, between January 2020 and April 2020. Following the initial assessment, all participants underwent pure-tone audiometry (PTA) in a soundproof room to measure their hearing thresholds, and the results were analyzed. Results A total of 236 medical students participated in this study, with a mean age of 21.1 ± 0.86 years. Among them, 142 (60%) were female. The most common symptom reported was ear pain, experienced by 33 participants (14%). PTA (bone conduction) results showed that 227 (96%) participants had thresholds of ≥5 dB in the right ear, while 223 (94%) had the same in the left ear. Additionally, 139 (59%) of participants had hearing thresholds (air conduction) between 15 and 20 dB in the right ear, and 97 (41%) in the left ear. The study found a significant association between gender (p = 0.015) and hours of daily device usage (p < 0.01). Conclusions These results suggest that prolonged exposure to portable listening devices increases the risk of hearing impairment. To prevent gradually progressive noise-induced hearing loss, proactive measures must be taken to reduce extended exposure to these devices, safeguarding both the current younger generation and future generations.