ArticleCureus2024
A Study of Hearing Acuity and the Health of the External Auditory Canal Among Earphone Users in Central India.
Article in Cureus, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Recurrent tragal abscess associated with frequent in-ear headphone use: a case report.Journal of surgical case reports · 2026Article
- Predicting hearing loss in noise-exposed petrochemical workers: Influencing factors and a nomogram model.Public health in practice (Oxford, England) · 2026Article
- Earphone use habits and their association with auditory and dermatologic complications.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- A Study of Hearing Acuity and the Health of the External Auditory Canal Among Earphone Users in Central India.Cureus · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background and objective The pervasive use of earphones has raised concerns about its potential impact on hearing acuity and the health of the external auditory canal (EAC). This study aimed to investigate these effects in a sample of individuals in Central India to better understand the associated risks. Materials and methods This observational cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Sawangi Wardha. A total of 130 participants aged 15-35 years were divided into two groups: 65 earphone users and 65 non-earphone users. The data collection involved medical histories, clinical examinations, and audiometric testing, including pure-tone audiometry (PTA), impedance audiometry, and otoacoustic emissions (OAE). Participants completed a questionnaire on earphone usage, and EAC health was assessed via physical examinations and photographic documentation. Statistical analyses included descriptive and inferential statistics, with significance set at p<0.05. Results Among earphone users, 45 (69.23%) exhibited hearing loss compared to 11 (16.92%) in non-users (p<0.00001). Noise-canceling earphones were associated with fewer cases of hearing loss (6/45, 13.33%) than non-noise-canceling types (39/45, 86.67%) (p<0.00001). EAC issues were more prevalent in earphone users, with 39 (60%) showing normal conditions versus 52 (80%) in non-users. Impactions of wax, otomycosis, and otitis externa were observed more frequently among earphone users. Conclusions The study highlights a significant association between earphone use and increased risk of hearing loss and EAC issues. Noise-canceling earphones may offer some protective benefits. These findings underscore the need for raising awareness and implementing preventive measures to mitigate potential risks associated with prolonged earphone use.
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