The Role of a Smartphone Application in Monitoring the Risk of Hearing Loss Associated with Personal Listening Devices in Young Adults
Background Exposure to loud music has been reported to affect high-frequency hearing thresholds in adults. This study aimed to use a mobile application to assess the risk of hearing loss associated with personal listening devices (PLDs) in young adults. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Noise and Health |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/nah.nah_137_24 |
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| author | Deniz Tuz Selin Sariçamlik Ceren Bodur Gülce Kirazli Pelin Piştav Akmeşe |
| author_facet | Deniz Tuz Selin Sariçamlik Ceren Bodur Gülce Kirazli Pelin Piştav Akmeşe |
| author_sort | Deniz Tuz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Exposure to loud music has been reported to affect high-frequency hearing thresholds in adults. This study aimed to use a mobile application to assess the risk of hearing loss associated with personal listening devices (PLDs) in young adults. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 99 healthy iPhone Operating System (iOS) smartphone users aged 17 to 31 years. Based on their weekly, monthly, 6-month, and annual listening data from the “Health” application, participants were classified into at-risk or non-risk groups. Six individuals in the at-risk group underwent audiological assessments. The Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) was given to all participants. SSQ scores were compared between groups using the Mann–Whitney U test. The correlation between average PLD sound levels and SSQ scores was analyzed using the Spearman’s test. Results The weekly, monthly, 6-month, and annual listening data showed that 16, 14, 12, and 12 participants were at risk, respectively. All six participants who underwent audiological assessment exhibited normal hearing thresholds. However, a pattern of decline at high frequencies was noted. A significant difference was found between the groups in terms of overall SSQ score (z = −2.74, P = 0.00), speech perception score (z = −3.25, P = 0.00), and hearing quality score (z = −2.01, P = 0.04) based on the 6-month and annual listening data. A weak positive correlation was found between the SSQ scores across all subscales and monthly sound-level data. Exposure duration was negatively correlated with speech perception (r = −0.32, P < 0.05), spatial perception (r = −0.26, P < 0.05), and overall score (r = −0.29, P < 0.05) in weekly data, as well as with hearing quality (r = −0.21; P < 0.05) and overall score (r = −0.21, P < 0.05) in annual data. Conclusions The immediate effects of loud music exposure were absent; however, prolonged exposure resulted in reduced speech perception and hearing-quality levels. Data from the iOS “Health” application indicated that some individuals were at risk of hearing loss, suggesting the need to modify their listening habits to prevent long-term decline in hearing function. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bec236086d47427e9cc03094082fcb2d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1463-1741 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Noise and Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-bec236086d47427e9cc03094082fcb2d2025-08-20T03:11:30ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsNoise and Health1463-17412025-03-012712517918610.4103/nah.nah_137_24The Role of a Smartphone Application in Monitoring the Risk of Hearing Loss Associated with Personal Listening Devices in Young AdultsDeniz TuzSelin SariçamlikCeren BodurGülce KirazliPelin Piştav AkmeşeBackground Exposure to loud music has been reported to affect high-frequency hearing thresholds in adults. This study aimed to use a mobile application to assess the risk of hearing loss associated with personal listening devices (PLDs) in young adults. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 99 healthy iPhone Operating System (iOS) smartphone users aged 17 to 31 years. Based on their weekly, monthly, 6-month, and annual listening data from the “Health” application, participants were classified into at-risk or non-risk groups. Six individuals in the at-risk group underwent audiological assessments. The Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) was given to all participants. SSQ scores were compared between groups using the Mann–Whitney U test. The correlation between average PLD sound levels and SSQ scores was analyzed using the Spearman’s test. Results The weekly, monthly, 6-month, and annual listening data showed that 16, 14, 12, and 12 participants were at risk, respectively. All six participants who underwent audiological assessment exhibited normal hearing thresholds. However, a pattern of decline at high frequencies was noted. A significant difference was found between the groups in terms of overall SSQ score (z = −2.74, P = 0.00), speech perception score (z = −3.25, P = 0.00), and hearing quality score (z = −2.01, P = 0.04) based on the 6-month and annual listening data. A weak positive correlation was found between the SSQ scores across all subscales and monthly sound-level data. Exposure duration was negatively correlated with speech perception (r = −0.32, P < 0.05), spatial perception (r = −0.26, P < 0.05), and overall score (r = −0.29, P < 0.05) in weekly data, as well as with hearing quality (r = −0.21; P < 0.05) and overall score (r = −0.21, P < 0.05) in annual data. Conclusions The immediate effects of loud music exposure were absent; however, prolonged exposure resulted in reduced speech perception and hearing-quality levels. Data from the iOS “Health” application indicated that some individuals were at risk of hearing loss, suggesting the need to modify their listening habits to prevent long-term decline in hearing function.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/nah.nah_137_24hearing lossyoung adultnoise exposurehearing healthmobile application |
| spellingShingle | Deniz Tuz Selin Sariçamlik Ceren Bodur Gülce Kirazli Pelin Piştav Akmeşe The Role of a Smartphone Application in Monitoring the Risk of Hearing Loss Associated with Personal Listening Devices in Young Adults Noise and Health hearing loss young adult noise exposure hearing health mobile application |
| title | The Role of a Smartphone Application in Monitoring the Risk of Hearing Loss Associated with Personal Listening Devices in Young Adults |
| title_full | The Role of a Smartphone Application in Monitoring the Risk of Hearing Loss Associated with Personal Listening Devices in Young Adults |
| title_fullStr | The Role of a Smartphone Application in Monitoring the Risk of Hearing Loss Associated with Personal Listening Devices in Young Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of a Smartphone Application in Monitoring the Risk of Hearing Loss Associated with Personal Listening Devices in Young Adults |
| title_short | The Role of a Smartphone Application in Monitoring the Risk of Hearing Loss Associated with Personal Listening Devices in Young Adults |
| title_sort | role of a smartphone application in monitoring the risk of hearing loss associated with personal listening devices in young adults |
| topic | hearing loss young adult noise exposure hearing health mobile application |
| url | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/nah.nah_137_24 |
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