Magnitude and patterns of using earphones and relationship with hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness among medical students at the University of Dodoma

Background: Due to online learning and medical students' recreational usage of headphones and earphones, the trend of their usage among adolescents and young adults has kept increasing thus at risk of noise induced hearing loss. No study has been done to determine the magnitude and patterns of earphones usage and their relationship to tinnitus, hearing loss and dizziness among medical students in Tanzania. Objective: To determine the magnitude and patterns of using earphones and relationship with hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness among medical students at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 323 medical students at the University of Dodoma from April to July 2024. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 29. Results: A total of 323 participants aged 18-35 years were enrolled. Majority were males, (66.6%) and male to female ratio was 1.99:1. The magnitude of earphone usage was 94.7%. Predominant earphone usage was among males, (66%). Regarding patterns of using earphones, majority preferred loud volume of listening, (33%) and 65.4% of medical students used earphones for more than 2 years. Majority of the participants reported to have used earphones for relaxing, (38.9%) and the common type of earphone used was Bluetooth device (IPOD), (25.2%). A remarkable magnitude of subjective hearing loss was found, 100% and on respective basis, 37.9%, and 26.8% of medical students reported to have experienced tinnitus and dizziness following earphone use. There was no statistical significance between socio-demographic characteristics and volume level of listening using earphones except for marital status. Conclusion: The study has found a remarkable magnitude of earphone usage among medical students and all students who reported to have used earphones were found to have subjective hearing loss. More than half of the students who used earphones had experienced tinnitus and dizziness.