Relationship Between Personal Audio System Use and Tinnitus Among Medical Students

Marlina, Lina and Tiroy Sari B., Simanjuntak and Adur, Monika Maria Bate (2025) Relationship Between Personal Audio System Use and Tinnitus Among Medical Students. International Journal Of Health Engineering And Technology (IJHET), 4 (4). pp. 869-875. ISSN 2829 – 8683

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Abstract

Personal Audio Systems (PAS) have become increasingly prevalent, particularly among younger populations,due to their affordability and ease of use—reaching a usage prevalence of up to 95% in some groups. Despitetheir popularity, concerns have arisen regarding the potential risks associated with prolonged and improper use,including extended duration, high frequency, and excessive volume levels. Chronic exposure to such conditionsmay lead to reduced hearing sensitivity and the onset of tinnitus. This study aimed to examine the usage patternsof PAS and their association with tinnitus occurrence and severity among pre-clinical medical students at theFaculty of Medicine, Christian University of Indonesia, Classes of 2023–2024. A cross-sectional analyticalobservational design was employed. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire distributedthrough Google Forms, using consecutive sampling. Inclusion criteria included active pre-clinical students usingPAS without a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ear infections, or tumours, and who consented toparticipate. Two instruments were used: the PAS Usage Pattern Questionnaire (PPPAS) and the TinnitusHandicap Inventory (THI) to assess tinnitus severity. Statistical analyses included the Chi-square test, normalitytesting, and Spearman correlation using IBM SPSS Statistics 26. Among 200 respondents, 58.5% demonstratedrisky PAS usage patterns. According to THI results, 71% reported no handicap, while 29% experienced varyinglevels of tinnitus severity, which is 10,5% reported mild handicap, 7% moderate handicap, 6,5% severe handicap,dan 5% catastrophic handicap. A significant relationship was found between PAS usage patterns and thepresence of tinnitus symptoms (p = 0.025). The findings suggest that risky use of Personal Audio Systems isassociated with an increased risk of tinnitus among medical students

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