Tinnitus: The Hidden Cost of Earbuds

Shems Hamza Jasim; Ehab Taha Yaseen

doi:10.54133/ajms.v9i2.2490

Authors

Shems Hamza Jasim Audiology clinic, College of Medicine, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8664-653X
Ehab Taha Yaseen Otolaryngology Unit, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8040-5398

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54133/ajms.v9i2.2490

Keywords:

Cochlear insult, Earbuds, NIT, Noise, Tinnitus

Abstract

Background: In the era of modern technology, young adults, in particular, extensively use earbuds as a social trend. Prolonged use can lead to noise exposure and potentially cause tinnitus. Objectives: To investigate the frequency of earbud use, subjective tinnitus among the students, and the relationship between the pattern of use and the development of tinnitus. Methods: It is a descriptive cross-sectional study. 275 young adults, aged 18 to 24, of both sexes, were recruited through voluntary response sampling. Participants were evaluated by clinical examination, tympanometry, a self-administered questionnaire, and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Results: Of the 275 participants, 184 were earbud users (66.9%), and 35(19.0%) of them reported tinnitus. Tinnitus was more common among those using earbuds over 4 hours daily (32%) and those always listening at high volume (39.4%). There was a strong association between poor hearing habits and the development of tinnitus. Conclusions: The higher frequency of tinnitus in earbud users suggests a possible link between earbud use and tinnitus. The rates of tinnitus were higher among individuals who used earbuds for more than 4 hours/day (32%) and those who always listened at high volumes (39.4%), with a significant association between tinnitus and hours of earbud usage per day. These findings highlight a clear correlation between unsafe earbud use and early auditory dysfunction.

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