Appearance of Audiological Diseases Due to the Indiscriminate Use of Audio Devices

Abstract

Introduction: Recreational noise is that which results from leisure activities, such as the use of music players, attendance at concerts, cinemas, among others, and is a risk factor for hearing impairment, but it is preventable.

Objective: Identify the impact of the indiscriminate use of audio devices and the main clinical manifestations secondary to their overexposure.

Methods: An observational, cross-sectional and analytical study was carried out on a universe of 122 patients who attended the Otorhinolaryngology Service of the Central Military Hospital “Dr. Luis Díaz Soto”, in the period from February 2019 to April 2021.

Results: It was found that 14 patients showed overexposure to noise, of which 100% used in-ear headphones, which are the most harmful, so they are most likely to cause hearing impairment. An association was found between a noise dose greater than 1 with the presence of tinnitus (OR: 5.48) and hearing loss (OR: 3.8), as well as the association between attendance at music concerts and temporary post-exposure tinnitus. (OR: 2.6).

Conclusions: Due to the high prevalence of overexposure to noise and its clinical manifestations, noise-induced hearing loss should be considered a public health problem, since it is one of the main causes of disability.