Younger Generation Safety: Hearing Loss and Academic Performance Degradation Among College Student Headphone Users

Abstract

The potential for hearing loss among younger generations is escalating every year, as well as government expenses on hearing loss. Likewise, the use of headphones has been thought to degrade a college student’s academic performance. Hearing loss is defined as a hearing impairment of one or both ears, partial or complete, that results from one’s lifestyle, exposure and employment. This issue among the younger generation requires immediate attention. In light of this, this study was conducted in order to survey the listening habits and lifestyle of typical college students who use headphones for at least 5 days a week. Also it investigated possible safety issues and academic performance impacts associated with the use of the device. Two hundred and eighty (N = 280) both undergraduate and graduate students were surveyed, 39% were female (N = 110) and 61% male (N = 170). Eighty-four percent of the respondents were identified as a perpetual users of headphones on daily basis (N = 236), 34% were female (N = 80) and 66% male (N = 156). Results revealed that 44% of the respondents who use headphones on daily basis did not believe that headphone usage can in any-way affect their hearing. Thirty percent of the respondents affirmed that they use headphones because other teenagers use it, while 25% confirmed to be experiencing a ringing sound in their ears after using headphones. About 33% reported to be experiencing loss of sleep at night. Seventy-nine percent of the respondents use their headphones for more than 1 h daily at a volume above 60%. A majority of the respondents use ear-bud headphones. Approximately, 23% answered yes to the question on possible effects on academic performance and 27% of the 23% respondents affirmed to have noticed negative impact on their academic performance since they have started using headphones. Only 189 participants responded to the additional open-ended questions. Of the 189 respondents, 35% reported that headphone listening volume should be as low as 40%, while 14% agreed that headphones should not be used while reading or listening to lecture in a class. Only 13% reported that headphones should be used occasionally and 10% agreed that they should be used during physical activities and not during cognitive activities, which might result in multitasking. Findings from this study show concerns regarding the use of headphones as a possible cause of onset of hearing loss, reduced environmental awareness, and potential academic degradation among some college student users. In addition, the findings could propel a laboratory evaluation of college student headphones users on the extent to which headphones usage can contribute to early hearing loss.