Risk Factors for Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions in Young Adults

The effects of music listening time with headphones on hearing thresholds among the young population

Background

Today, young people who listen to loud music, especially through headphones, are at an extremely high risk of noise-induced hearing loss. The aim of this study was to investigate how young people’s listening habits affect their hearing thresholds. A total of 88 young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 took part in the study, 44 of whom listened to music through headphones while the others did not. The control group was exposed to white noise at 55–65 dB with the Interacoustic AC 40 Hybrid Audiometer, and people who did not use headphones and said they were not exposed to higher levels of sound than the given sample were included in the study. Participants were given a survey to assess their music listening preferences. One hundred twenty-five to 18,000 Hz air conduction hearing thresholds were assessed for all participants.

Results

When the pure tone thresholds of the groups were compared, the independent t-test showed that the thresholds of the study group were significantly worse than those of the control group. Bilaterally in the 4000 Hz band and for the left ear in the 6000 Hz band (p < 0.05). There were also significant differences between the groups in the 14,000 Hz and 16,000 Hz bands in the right ear and the 14,000 Hz, 16,000 Hz, and 18,000 Hz bands in the left ear (p < 0.05). Twenty-two participants reported listening to music at a high level, 16 participants at a moderate level, and 6 participants at a very high level.

Conclusion

Although the hearing thresholds of the study group were worse than those of the control group in the 4000 Hz, 6000 Hz, 14,000 Hz, 16,000 Hz, and 18,000 Hz bands, the hearing thresholds of both groups were still within the hearing range and could be classified as normal. It should be remembered that hearing will deteriorate if a person listens to loud or very loud music continuously through headphones. The public, especially young people, should be made aware of this.

Self-Reported Drug Use and Hearing Measures in Young Adults

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine marijuana or other substance use on pure-tone thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in young adults. Method Young adults (n = 243; 182 women, 61 men; M _age = 20.9 years, SD = 2.7 years) participated in this study. Survey data included personal music system use, marijuana use, and misuse of prescription medications. Otoscopy, tympanometry, pure-tone audiometry, and DPOAEs were obtained. Pure tones from octave frequencies of 0.25 through 8 kHz were obtained, and DPOAEs were recorded between f₂ frequencies of 1 and 6 kHz using two continuously presented stimulus tones swept in frequency. Results Those who reported marijuana or stimulant use had similar pure-tone averages (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) compared to those who reported never using marijuana or stimulants. Women who reported marijuana use in the past 30 days > two times had statistically significant higher mean DPOAEs compared to women who reported ≤ two times or no marijuana use in the past 30 days. Men, however, who reported marijuana use in the past 30 days > two times had lower, but not statistically significant, mean DPOAEs compared to men who reported ≤ two times or no marijuana use in the past 30 days. Women who reported ever using stimulants had statistically significant higher mean DPOAEs compared to women who reported never using stimulants; for men, mean DPOAEs were similar between those who reported ever using stimulants and those who never used stimulants. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate different and contradictory associations between marijuana use, stimulant use, and hearing outcomes as a function of sex. Future research is needed to explore these associations utilizing larger sample sizes while accounting for additional harmful exposures to other noise exposures.

The Effects of Short-Term and Long-term Hearing Changes on Music Exposure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The present study explores the scientific evidence on whether music exposure temporarily or permanently affects hearing sensitivity in young adults. Six electronic databases were searched using related keywords for the four categories of personal listening devices, listening habits, hearing outcomes, and age. The Hedges’ g and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. A Higgins I² was also used to check for heterogeneity. To test for publication bias, funnel plots were drawn using Egger’s regression. Based on the inclusion criteria, 16 studies were divided into two groups to identify short-term hearing changes (n = 7) and long-term hearing changes (n = 9). In the short term, there was no significant immediate change in the thresholds or amplitudes after the music exposure, although pure-tone thresholds (PTAs) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) did show the highest effect size (−0.344, CI −0.727 to 0.038) and (0.124, CI −0.047 to 0.296) at 4 kHz. On the other hand, for long-term hearing changes, the PTA provided the highest effect size at 6 kHz (−0.525, CI −0.897 to −0.154) and 8 kHz (–0.486, CI −0.819 to −0.152), while also implying that habitual and repeated personal listening device (PLD) usage can act on some significant hearing changes in audiological tests. We conclude that the use of a PLD produces a few temporary hearing changes at 4 kHz after its use but that the changes are then reversed. However, it is important to note heavy PLD users’ experience regarding permanent changes in their hearing thresholds at high frequencies, and the public should be educated on this issue.

Effects of Cardiovascular Health Factors and Personal Listening Behaviors on Hearing Sensitivity in College-Aged students

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the association between pure tone hearing sensitivity and music listening behaviors among traditional college-aged students and sought to determine factors that mediate hearing sensitivity, including health and fitness levels, gender, and personal listening device (PLD) use.

METHODS

A convenience sample of college students (N = 182; 133 females, 49 males, mean age = 19.8 ± 1.4 year, average PLD use = 1.52 ± 7.1 hours•day^-1) completed hearing assessments, music listening behavior questionnaires, and health and fitness tests.

RESULTS

Most students listened to music at safe intensity levels (<80 dBA), though 18% had higher hearing levels (≥25 dB HL at one of the measured frequencies). Longer listening duration behavior approached but did not reach a statistical association with compromised hearing sensitivity. Of all variables measured, including cardiovascular health, fitness, and music listening, two variables: total cholesterol: triglycerides (TC:TG) and total cholesterol: high-density lipoproteins (TC:HDL) significantly associated with hearing sensitivity at 2 kHz. The odds hearing loss occurring at 4 kHz was 59% lower in females compared with males.

CONCLUSION

The majority of college students had healthy music listening behavior and fitness, contributing to normal hearing sensitivity in most. In cases where greater hearing threshold levels at one or more frequencies was detected, TC:HDL and TC:TG were statistically related and at 2 kHz, males were more likely to demonstrate higher listening levels compared with females of similar health and fitness level.