Abstract
Background Personal audio device use among healthcare students is widespread, raising concerns about noise‑induced hearing loss. Objective To evaluate patterns of headphone use, quantify noise exposure, and examine their association with auditory symptoms and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) among medical students pursuing the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree, pharmacy, and nursing students. Methodology A cross‑sectional study surveyed 250 undergraduate medical, pharmacy, and nursing students (aged 18-30 years, mean 20.8 ± 2.1) at MGM Medical College and Hospital, Kishanganj. Participants completed a questionnaire on headphone type, listening duration, and volume, followed by otoscopic examination and pure‑tone audiometry. Associations between device‑use patterns and auditory outcomes were tested using the chi‑square test. Results Regular headphone use was reported by 210 students (84.0%). Earbuds were the most common device (91 users, 43.3%), followed by wired earphones (58, 27.6%), Bluetooth earphones (47, 22.4%), and headsets (14, 6.7%); choice differed significantly by program (χ² = 40.88, P < 0.001). Daily listening lasted <2 hours for 92 users (43.8%), 2-4 hours for 85 (40.5%), 4-6 hours for 25 (11.9%), and >6 hours for 8 (3.8%). Volume was kept below 50% of maximum by 100 users (47.6%), at 50%-80% by 103 (49.0%), and above 80% by 7 (3.4%). Headache was the most common complaint (62 students, 24.8%), followed by eye watering (53, 21.2%), intolerance to loud sounds (37, 14.8%), and ear pain (36, 14.4%). Symptoms were more frequent with both longer duration and higher volume: all students who listened at >80% volume for >4 hours experienced multiple symptoms, whereas only about one‑fifth of those listening for the same duration at <50% volume reported any. SNHL was detected in nine students (3.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9%-6.7%), seven with mild and two with moderate impairment; eight of these nine cases displayed the 4-6 kHz notch characteristic of noise‑induced damage. Conclusions Unsafe listening practices are common among healthcare students. Higher listening volumes and extended daily use were associated with increased auditory symptoms and early SNHL. Volume regulation appears more critical than duration alone in reducing risk. Educational initiatives and routine screening are warranted, particularly for MBBS students, to protect hearing health.