WHO defines hearing loss as not being able to hear as well as someone with normal hearing hearing thresholds of 25dB or better in both ears. (1) Hearing loss can either be congenital or
acquired. Of the acquired hearing losses, earphones induced hearing loss belongs to the noise
induced sensorineural hearing loss category, which are mostly occupationally (machinery etc)
or recreationally (personal audio devices, nightclubs) acquired. Approximately, 20-30 million
people between 20 and 69 years old have high frequency hearing loss due to longstanding
exposure to noise above 90 decibels (dB) mostly due to mobile phone and earphones use (2).
Hearing loss is usually assessed by pure-tone audiometry. This is done by evaluating hearing
at particular frequencies, or to evaluate deficits more completely. Pure-tone audiometry is
performed with the use of an audiometer. Audiometers held by hand have a sensitivity of 92
percent and a specificity of 94 percent in detecting sensorineural hearing loss. Recent studies
report that the individuals who use earphones present with decreased otoacoustic emissions
amplitude as compared to those who do not use earphones despite having a normal hearing
degree in the tonal audiometry (5). Studies have shown that most MP3 players today can
produce sounds up to 120 dB and that long-term cell phone use to hear music may cause
damage in the inner ear (6).