Research Article

Excessive usage of headphones among college students and

their effects
B. Aishwarya Reddy1, Thenmozhi M S2*

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Most of the students today are more fascinated about new technology. The most trending digital appliance among
students is headphones. Usage of headphones has become more and more among students. This has led to the hearing loss in few
students. Although there are precautions for this, most of the students take them for granted. Hearing loss also gives some warning
effects like ringing in the ears. The main problem of hearing loss is not listening to music but listening to music for longer durations.
Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire was prepared and has been circulated among the students of Saveetha Dental
College. This survey was conducted among 120 students. Conclusion: It can be concluded that most of the students or not at great
risk of hearing loss. However, a very small segment of people should be taken precautions for their well-being.

KEY WORDS: College students, Headphones, Hearing health, Noise exposure, Loud noises

INTRODUCTION loss in some listeners, particularly those who are using

Hearing loss is occurred when the inner ear is damaged
or destroyed. Frequent exposure to loud or moderately
loud noise over a long period of time can damage the
soft tissue of the inner ear. Cells and nerves in the
inner ear are demolished by uninterrupted or repeated
exposure to loud sounds.[1,2] Sound exposure for longer
durations will effect the ear and will not recover soon.
There are many ways to cure hearing loss, but all are
temporary. Most of the teenagers are almost addicted
to headphones or earphones. Music is a relief, but
most of them use them as a symbol of fashion.[3]
Technology is moving ahead day by day, leaving us all
confined in splendor and comfort with many unknown
bad effects on health. The popularity of using
earphones/headphones is being increased dramatically
over a period of time.[5,6] Headphones or earphones are
one such technology that is being used by youngsters
but everyone today without knowing the health effects
associated with it.[4] The usage of earphones for longer
duration and at levels that may have a risk for hearing
Access this article online
earbud earphones.[7,8]
If you can hear the sound being delivered into a person’s
ear through headphones or earphones, it indicates the
sound is too loud and over a longer period of time can
lead to permanent hearing loss. It’s a known fact that,
if the sound is louder, the duration would be shorter.
Your ears can tolerate high volume only for a few
minutes.[9] When you use headphones or earphones, the
sound directly goes into your ear. Volume exceeding
90 decibels can result in hearing problems and even
hearing loss. All those who wear headphones for longer
durations are at a higher risk of hearing loss.[10,11]
If anyone listens for more than 100 decibels for even
15 min, they may have hearing loss. Hence, if you
have to use headphone or earphones, make sure that
you give your ears some rest and do not listen to music
for longer durations in higher volume at any cost.
People who use earphones or headphones most of the
time in the day to hear loud music will feel numb ears.[12,13]
MATERIALS AND METHODS

Website: jprsolutions.info ISSN: 0975-7619

A questionnaire was prepared. The survey was
conducted among the students of Saveetha Dental

1
Department of Anatomy, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha
University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, 2Department of Anatomy, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical
and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

*Corresponding author: Thenmozhi M S, Department of Anatomy, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical
and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. E-mail: m.s.thenmozhi@gmail.com

Received on: 12-05-2018; Revised on: 15-06-2018; Accepted on: 02-07-2018

2296 Drug Invention Today | Vol 10 • Issue 11 • 2018

 B. Aishwarya Reddy and M. S. Thenmozhi

College, Chennai, and the data were collected.
The survey was prepared on survey planet and was
circulated among the students. The questionnaire
consists of 10 questions related to the survey. The
survey was conducted among 120 students.
RESULTS
In general, most of the college students were aware
about the hearing health but could use the information
about the symptoms of and how to prevent hearing
loss. Three-fourth of the students were using
headphones, but not at the levels or for durations that
should show excessive risks for hearing loss, when
listening in a quiet environment. However, most of the
headphones users could be at the risk of hearing loss
given a combination of common practices.
Table 1 shows the questions, responses for the
questions, number of people for each response, and
the percentage of people for each response for each
question.
DISCUSSION
A total of 120 students responded for the online survey.
About 90 students (75.6%) of 120 use headphones to
listen to music [Graph 1]. Most of the students spend

Table 1: Survey planet questionnaire

Questions Response Number Percentage
1) Do you listen to music using Earphones or a Earphones 90 75.6
loudspeaker? Loudspeaker 23 19.3
None 6 5

2) For how many hours a day do you listen to music? 1‑2 h >2 h 20 16.8
<1 h 71 59.7
None 25 21
3 2.5
3) How often are you in Noisy settings? Rarely 35 29.2
Frequently 52 43.3
Always 27 22.5
Never 6 5
4) Do you think that hearing loss caused by noise can Yes 55 46.2
be prevented? No 16 13.4
Maybe 39 32.8
I do not know 9 7.6
5) How often do you have ringing in your ears? Always 30 25
Never 36 30
Rarely 50 41.7
Frequently 4 3.3
6) Do you think ringing in the ears is a warning sign Yes 59 49.2
for overexposure to potentially hazardous sound? No 19 15.8
Maybe 34 28.3
I do not know 8 6.7
7) How often do other people’s voice, sound muffled, Always 29 24.8
or mumbled to you? Never 29 24.8
Frequently 32 27.4
Rarely 27 23.18
8) Is having to turn up the volume on TV’s or radio’s a Yes 45 37.5
sign of hearing loss? No 16 13.3
Maybe 47 39.2
I do not know 12 10
9) How often do you have to turn up the volume on the Always 34 28.6
TV or radio to hear better? Never 28 23.5
Frequently 39 32.8
Rare 18 15.18
10) Rate your hearing on a 1–10 scale below, where 1 2 1.7
1=The worst possible hearing 2 2 1.7
10=The best possible hear 3 2 1.7
4 0 0
5 7 5.8
6 17 14.2
7 43 35.8
8 22 18.3
9 15 12.5
10 10 8.3%

Drug Invention Today | Vol 10 • Issue 11 • 2018 2297

 B. Aishwarya Reddy and M. S. Thenmozhi
about more than 2 h a day listening to music. 59.7%
of the students listen to music for more than 2 h. Even
if people are not using the headphones frequently, the
hearing loss also depends on how often a person is in
a noisy environment [Graph 2].
52 students (43.3%) tend to be more often in noisy
setting which may cause a hearing loss. Hearing loss
caused due to noise can be recovered, but that would
be a temporary treatment. Prevention would always be
better than cure. Most of the students think that the
hearing loss can be prevented. In the initial stages of
hearing loss, the most appeared symptom is having
ringing in your ears. According to this survey, students
have experienced this rarely, i.e., only 30 students
(25%) have experienced more often [Graph 3]. The
other symptom would be hearing other’s voice or
sound muffled or mumbled.
Most of them intend to increase the television or radio
volume as they are used to being in noisy settings.
Most of the students frequently increase the volume of
the television or radio, i.e., 39 students (32.8%). The
students were asked to rate their hearing on a scale of
one to 10, where one is the worst possible hearing,
Graph 1: Mode of listening to music
Graph 2: Duration of listening to music
Graph 3: How often ringing in ears is seen
2298
and 10 is the best possible hearing. The results showed
that most of the students rated their hearing as “7.” For
about 43 students (35.8%) have rated their hearing as
7 on the scale and 22 students (18.3%) have rated their
hearing as 8 on the scale. Very less number of students
has a perfect hearing. 10 students (8.3%) have rated
their hearing as 10 on the scale of one to 10.
This survey says that most of the youngsters use
earphones or headphones for a longer duration of time.
This is tallying with the other articles which prove
that most of the youngsters are at the risk of hearing
loss.[14] Even if, the students do not use earphones
or headphones, they lead to hearing problems and
eardrum damage as they are frequently surrounded
by noisy setting. The articles say that most of them
are unaware that the hearing loss can be prevented.
This survey says that for about 50% of the students
are aware of the precautions and prevalence of
hearing loss.[15,16] Most of them believe is the saying
“prevention is better than cure.” Due to the exposure
of the ears to noise for longer durations, about 60% of
them find ringing in their ears which is an important
signal to take care of yourself. However, according
to this survey, this statement is true as most of them
find ringing in their ears frequently. Mumbling is
one of the wading sign for the ears which cannot be
neglected.[17,18]
Mumbling was not seen much in the students, as there
is a limit for the time duration they are exposed to
sound. The sound is measured in decibels. If anyone
listens for more than 100 decibels, even for 15 min,
they might have hearing loss. On the scale one to 10,
most of them rated at seven, which is a normal rate of
hearing where one is the worst possible hearing and 10
is the best quality hearing.[19,20]
CONCLUSION
Most of the students of Saveetha Dental College
should not be at great risk of hearing loss from their
headphones when used continuously. Some concern is
warranted for a small segment of these students who
seemed to be most at the risk because they use the
headphones at high volume levels for long durations,
and few of them may already have a hearing loss due
to their excessive use.
REFERENCES
1. American Academy of Audiology. AMA Refers Resolution on
in-Ear Headphones for more Study at the Urging of the Academy.
Reston, Virginia: American Academy of Audiology; 2007.
2. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Regard-in the
February 1, 2006 Lawsuit Filed Against Apple; 2007. Available
from: http://www.asha.org/about/news/turndownthevolume/
apple-suit.htm. [Last accessed on 2007 Feb 1].
3. Beede KE, Kass SJ. Engrossed in conversation: The impact of
cell phones on simulated driving performance. Acid Anal Prev
Drug Invention Today | Vol 10 • Issue 11 • 2018
 B. Aishwarya Reddy and M. S. Thenmozhi
2006;38:415-21.
4. Bray AB, Szymanski M, Mills R. Noise induced hearing loss in
dance music disc jockeys and an examination of sound levels in
night clubs. J Laryngol Otol 2004;118:123-8.
5. Chung JH, Roches CM, Meunier J, Eavey RD. Evaluation of
noise-induced hearing loss in young people using a web-based
survey technique. Pediatrics 2005;115:861-7.
6. Crandell C, Mills TL, Gauthier R. Knowledge, behaviors, and
attitudes about hearing loss and hearing protection among
racial/ethnically diverse young adults. J  Natl Med Assoc
2004;96:176-86.
7. Fligor BJ, Cox LC. Output levels of commercially available
portable compact disc players and the potential risk to hearing.
Ear Hear 2004;25:513-27.
8. Fligor BJ, Ives T. Does Earphone Type  Affect Risk of
Recreational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss? Paper Presented at
the Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: Children at Work and Play
Meeting, Covington; 2006.
9. Goodin D. Apple Sued Over Hearing Loss in iPod Users.
Associated Press; 2006. Available from: http://www.sfgate.com/
cgi-bin/article.cgi?f5/n/a/2006/02/01/financial/f154219S22.
DTL&tag5iLounge. [Last accessed on 2006 Feb 1].
10. Hodgetts WE, Rieger JM, Szarko RA. The effects of listening
environment and earphone style on preferred listening levels
of normal hearing adults using an MP3 player. Ear Hear
2007;28:290-7.
11. Zogby International. Survey of Teens and Adults about the use
of Personal Electronic Devices and Earphones 2006. Available
from: http://www.asha.org/NR/rdonlyres/10B67FA1-002C-
4C7B-BA0B-1C0A3AF98A63/0/zogby_survey2006.pdf.
[Last accessed on 2006 Feb 1].
12. Mangunkusumo RT, Moorman PW, Van Den Berg-de Ruiter  AE,
Van Der Lei J, De Koning HJ, Raat H. Internet-administered
Drug Invention Today | Vol 10 • Issue 11 • 2018
adolescent health questionnaires compared with a paper version
in a randomized study. J Adolesc Health 2005;36:70e1-6.
13. Moses SH, Clark TJ. Effect of prize draw incentive on the
response rate to a postal survey of hearing loss: A randomized
controlled trial. BMC Health Serv Res 2004;28:14.
14. Mostafapour SP, Laharqoue K, Gates GA. Noise-induced
hearing loss in young adults: The role of personal listening
devices and other sources of leisure noise. Laryngoscope
1998;108:1832-9.
15. Portnuff CD, Fligor BJ. Output Levels of Portable Digital
Music Players. Paper Presented at the Noise-Induced Hearing
Loss: Children at Work and Play Meeting, Covington; 2006.
16. Raat H, Mangunkusumo RT, Mohangoo AD, Juniper EF, Van
Der Lei J. Internet and hearing questionnaires yield equivalent
results for adolescents. Pediatr Pulmonol 2007;42:357-61.
17. Rabinowitz PM, Slade MD, Galusha D, Dixon-Ernst C, Cullen
MR. Trends in the prevalence of hearing loss among young
adults entering an industrial workforce 1985 to 2004. Ear Hear
2006;27:369-75.
18. Solodar HS, Williams KO, Byrne DC, Palmer CV. Correlation
between self-Perception and Hearing aid Outcome. Poster
Presented at Audiology NOW! Minneapolis. Boston, MA:
American Academy of Audiology Meeting; 2005.
19. Turunen-Rise I, Flottorp G, Tvete O. A  study of the
possibility of acquiring noise-induced hearing loss by the
use of personal cassette players (Walkman). Scand Audiol
Suppl 1999;34:133‑44.
20. Wong TW, Van Hasselt CA, Tang LS, Yiu PC. The use of
personal cassette players among youths and its effects on
hearing. Public Health 1990;104:327-30.
Source of support: Nil; Conflict of interest: None Declared
2299