Özet:

Objective: Recently, people have shown great interest in digital portable music players. Therefore, an increase has been observed in the rate of sound exposure of the young population.While the number of publications on the risk of permanent hearing loss that is caused by individual music players has been increasing, there is still insufficient literature on precaution and information. In our study, individual earphones, high level voice that reaches directly to the ear in an unnatural way and accordingly auditory system damage have been examined. Material and Methods: A questionnaire about music listening habits has been conducted on 215 students studying at Baskent University randomly. Music listening time and level of sound determined by questionnaire and relationship between these paramaters with hearing levels of individuals has been studied. Survey forms of the study group were filed under direct observation by the researcher. Hearing thresholds were obtained in the sound isolated cabins of ‘Industrial Acoustic Company (IAC) Inc.’Air bone conduction threshold were recorded to be 0,25-16 kHz by ‘Interacoustics’AC-40 clinical audiometer by using TDH-39 ‘Telephonics’ and R/80 ‘KOSS’ headset. Bone conduction threshold were found to be 0,5-4 kHz octave frequencies by using ‘Radioear’ B-71 bone vibrator. Effect of music listening period and sound level choice on hearing was studied. Results: In the study, a questionnaire about music listening habits was conducted on 215 students studying at Başkent University. In the survey, 85% of the students have stated that they use gadgets with earphones to listen to music. The frequency of music listening via earphones while studying is 33%.When the time of day of the students’music listening via earphones are analysed, it was determined that they listen to music via earphones, at least 2 to 3 hours every day. Most of the students that participated in the study listen to the music in medium or high levels. While there is no statistically significant difference between the music listening habits of female and male students, it has been observed that more female students have participated in the study (109 female, 74 male). Of the 76% students that listen to music via earphones use in the canal earphone types.Whereas among male students, this ratio has increased up to 86 %, among female students it is 62 %. It has been determined that there is a relation between the gender and the choice of earphone. It has been determined that female students use in the canal earphones more than other earphone types. Students who listen to music via headphones have encountered some problems. The most commonly encountered problems are tinnitus, headache and a feeling of congestion in the ears. It has been found out that there is a certain decrease in the hearing threshold in the higher frequencies of the students who listen to music via headphones. When the exposure of the students who participated in the study to cumulative sound is considered, statistically decrease in 14 and 16 kHz hearing threshold has been observed. Conclusion: High frequency audiometry, gives information about noise induced hearing loss significant earlier than common audiometry. The weak exposure period of noise determined according to 20 dB hearing thresholds, so that statistically significant hearing thresholds for right ear 14 kHz and 16 kHz frequency slightly declined. Using personal music players for a long time with high sound levels, noise induced hearing loss may occur.

Anahtar Kelimeler: