Pengaruh Penggunaan PLDS terhadap Angka Kejadian dan Tingkat Keparahan Tinnitus pada Mahasiswa Kedokteran  Universitas Malikussaleh

Personal Listening Devices (PLDs) are widely used in modern life, but excessive use may lead to hearing sensitivity loss and the development of tinnitus a condition characterized by ringing in the ears. The severity of tinnitus can be assessed using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory Questionnaire (THI-Q). This study aimed to examine the relationship between earphone usage patterns and both the incidence and severity of tinnitus among medical students at Malikussaleh University. The study employed an analytical observational design with a cross-sectional approach and used the Spearman test for analysis. The sample consisted of students from the 2019–2021 cohorts. Results showed that most participants had used earphones for more than 3 years (58.8%), with daily use of less than 1 hour (46.1%) and volume levels below 60% (50.3%). Bivariate analysis revealed no significant relationship between duration, frequency, or volume of earphone use and either the incidence or severity of tinnitus (p > 0.05). In conclusion, there was no significant association between PLD usage patterns and tinnitus occurrence or severity in the studied population.