Publication:

A smartphone-based assessment of hearing impairment among medical students of a medical college, Bidar: a cross-sectional study

Background Hearing loss is increasingly prevalent among young adults, often due to frequent use of personal audio devices. Early assessment is essential for identifying hearing impairment and implementing preventive strategies. This study evaluated hearing levels among medical students using the hearWHO application. Objective was to estimate the prevalence of hearing impairment using a smartphone-based tool and to assess the associated factors among medical students.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 140 medical students selected through stratified random sampling. Each academic year (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and final year) constituted a stratum. Hearing was assessed using the hearWHO application, with scores categorized as >75 (excellent), 50-75 (moderate), and 75, 109 (77.9%) in score category 50-75 and 3 (2.1%) in score category <50. Among the earphone users, 85 (60.7%) did not adhere to volume alert notification.

Conclusions Most students had moderate hearWHO scores, while a small proportion exhibited low scores suggestive of hearing impairment. These findings highlight the importance of regular auditory assessment and preventive strategies, particularly among personal listening device users, for early detection and timely intervention.