Evidence of hearing loss in a ‘normally-hearing’ college-student population

Abstract

We report pure-tone hearing threshold findings in 56 college students. All subjects reported normal hearing during telephone interviews, yet not all subjects had normal sensitivity as defined by well-accepted criteria. At one or more test frequencies (0.25–8 kHz), 7% of ears had thresholds ≥25 dB HL and 12% had thresholds ≥20 dB HL. The proportion of ears with abnormal findings decreased when three-frequency pure-tone-averages were used. Low-frequency PTA hearing loss was detected in 2.7% of ears and high-frequency PTA hearing loss was detected in 7.1% of ears; however, there was little evidence for “notched” audiograms. There was a statistically reliable relationship in which personal music player use was correlated with decreased hearing status in male subjects. Routine screening and education regarding hearing loss risk factors are critical as college students do not always self-identify early changes in hearing. Large-scale systematic investigations of college students’ hearing status appear to be warranted; the current sample size was not adequate to precisely measure potential contributions of different sound sources to the elevated thresholds measured in some subjects.

Extended High-Frequency Thresholds in College Students: Effects of Music Player Use and Other Recreational Noise

“…Use of personal music players has already been correlated with EHF deficits (Peng et al, 2007; Figueiredo et al, 2012); our own analysis of the relationship between thresholds at conventional test frequencies, ranging from 250 Hz to 8 kHz, is consistent with this literature in that deficits as a function of music player were observed only at the highest conventional test frequencies (6 and 8 kHz) (Le Prell et al, 2011). One of the main shortcomings of the existing literature that seeks to identify relationships between music player use and hearing deficits is the limited information on other sources of noise to which study participants are routinely exposed.…”

“…In addition, inclusion criteria required that thresholds for the right and left ears be no more than 15 dB HL apart. Finally, if air conduction thresholds were 15 dB HL or higher (worse), bone conduction testing was administered and the difference between air and bone thresholds was required to be 10 dB or less (see Le Prell et al, 2011; Le Prell et al, 2012). All of the participants described in this report met the aforementioned inclusion criteria.…”

Daily music exposure dose and hearing problems using personal listening devices in adolescents and young adults: A systematic review

“…For example, Vogel et al (2010) reports that males are more likely to select higher PLLs than females, which is supported by McNeill et al (2010) reporting male PLLs to be a median of 7dBA higher than those of females. Le Prell et al (2011) also found that males using PLDs had significantly elevated hearing thresholds compared to females. Therefore, it is of vital importance that this group of individuals are made aware of immediate and future dangers, and provided with essential influence and education that will motivate and encourage a change in their listening habits.…”

“…Additionally, the other possible influential factor appears to be gender differences for both PLLs and durations of use (Le Prell et al, 2011, Vogel et al, 2010, McNeill et al, 2010. For example, Vogel et al (2010) reports that males are more likely to select higher PLLs than females, which is supported by McNeill et al (2010) reporting male PLLs to be a median of 7dBA higher than those of females.…”

“…For example, Le Prell et al (2011) noted that 25-30.6% of participants reported at least three or more sources of noise exposure. Therefore, with evidence of statistical power, it would be useful to investigate the relationship between hearing status and music exposure in terms of music intensity and listening durations using meta-analysis in future studies.…”