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Knowledge of the audiological effects, symptoms and practices related to personal listening devices of health sciences students at a South African university

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2020

R Y Seedat ,
R Ehlers ,
Y Lee ,
C Mung'omba ,
K Plaatjies ,
M Prins ,
M Randeree ,
M Zakhura  and
G Joubert
R Y Seedat*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
R Ehlers
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Y Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
C Mung'omba
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
K Plaatjies
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
M Prins
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
M Randeree
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
M Zakhura
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
G Joubert
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
*
Author for correspondence: Prof R Y Seedat, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein9300, South Africa E-mail: seedatry@ufs.ac.za
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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to determine the knowledge of first year health sciences students at a South African university regarding hearing loss and symptoms attributable to personal listening devices and their practices concerning the use of personal listening devices.

Method

This was a cross-sectional study carried out using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire.

Results

Of 336 students, 269 (80.1 per cent) completed the questionnaire. While most participants could identify symptoms that could be caused by extensive use of personal listening devices, almost 30 per cent did not know that it could cause permanent hearing loss. Personal listening devices were used by 90.7 per cent of participants, with 77.8 per cent having used them for more than five years. Use was at a high volume in 14.9 per cent of participants and for more than 2 hours per day in 52.7 per cent.

Conclusion

The findings indicate the need for an educational programme to inform students as to safe listening practices when using personal listening devices.

Keywords

Hearing LossMP3-PlayerStudentsYoung AdultHealth KnowledgeAttitudesPractice
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 134 , Issue 1 , January 2020 , pp. 20 - 23
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2020

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Footnotes

Prof R Y Seedat takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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