Effect of long-term use of electroacoustic devices on hearing of healthy young adults

Objectives: According to the World Health Organization, unhealthy listening habits put 1.1 billion young people at risk of hearing loss globally. Youth commonly spend their leisure and relaxation time listening to dangerous levels of music on headphones/earbuds or are exposed to high levels of music at concerts, parties, sports arenas and clubs. An exposure level of 85 decibels is the maximum safe limit for duration of up to 8 hours. The objective of the study is to assess hearing in healthy young adults using electroacoustic devices by mobile app HearWorld Health Organization (WHO) and pure-tone audiometry (PTA). Materials and Methods: After obtaining ethical clearance from the Institutional Ethics Committee of King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, eligible participants were recruited. The study procedure was carried out in the department of physiology. Participants were first screened using the questionnaire, followed by self-assessment through the HearWHO app using mobile phones and personal headphones. Finally, audiometric testing was performed using PTA to obtain a detailed evaluation of hearing thresholds. Results: The HearWHO app demonstrated a significant correlation with standard audiometric (PTA) findings, supporting its potential utility as a preliminary hearing screening tool. However, long-term use of headphones and electroacoustic devices showed only a weak correlation with both HearWHscores and PTA thresholds. Notably, no significant association was found between daily duration of device use and either hearing metric. Conclusion: The study highlighted the usefulness of the HearWHO app as a convenient and cost-effective hearing screening option. Although cumulative headphone use showed weak associations with standard thresholds, subtle auditory effects might emerge at higher frequencies or with prolonged exposure. These findings emphasised the need for early screening, particularly among younger populations, and suggested the potential benefit of incorporating extended high-frequency audiometry in routine hearing assessments.