Kornisch Myriam, Barton Ashley, Park Hyejin, Lowe Rebecca, Ikuta Toshikazu
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, United States.
Front Neurosci. 2024 Jan 5;17:1282829. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1282829. eCollection 2023.
Hearing loss among college students, specifically noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), appears to be increasing. This may be particularly challenging for this population as college students are required to listen to lectures in classrooms that may have suboptimal listening environments. College-aged musicians are at a particularly high risk due to repeated and extended exposure to loud noise. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was (1) to examine the prevalence of hearing loss in college students and (2) to emphasize the importance of detecting hearing loss at 6,000 Hz.
A meta-analysis was conducted using the PRISMA model. The literature search yielded 8 studies (1,950 subjects) that tested hearing loss using an audiogram and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAEs). All studies used audiologic tests to detect hearing loss among college students between the ages of 17-35 years.
Results indicate that the prevalence of hearing loss in college students is 19%. In addition, the prevalence of hearing loss at 6,000 Hz is 85% among student musicians. For this meta-analysis, slight sensorineural hearing loss, or thresholds greater than 20 dB bilaterally or unilaterally, qualified as hearing loss.
Decreased hearing at 6,000 Hz may lead to an individual's inability to hear important environmental factors and high frequency speech sounds. College students without full auditory function at this frequency may have difficulties performing in class based on decreased attention, comprehension, and memory. Although students may not realize the influence of their 6,000 Hz hearing loss or be unaware of its presence, it could significantly change their likelihood to succeed in college. Therefore, implementing a hearing conservation program may be advised for colleges and universities to help prevent hearing loss in students, particularly for collegiate musicians. In addition, it may be beneficial to screen hearing in college students at 6,000 Hz for better detection of hearing loss overall.
大学生中的听力损失，尤其是噪声性听力损失（NIHL），似乎正在增加。对于这一群体而言，这可能特别具有挑战性，因为大学生需要在听力环境可能不理想的教室里听课。由于反复且长时间暴露于高强度噪声，处于大学年龄段的音乐家面临的风险尤其高。因此，本研究的目的是：（1）调查大学生听力损失的患病率；（2）强调检测6000赫兹听力损失的重要性。
使用PRISMA模型进行荟萃分析。文献检索得到8项研究（1950名受试者），这些研究使用听力图和畸变产物耳声发射（DPOAE）测试听力损失。所有研究均采用听力测试来检测17至35岁大学生的听力损失情况。
结果表明，大学生听力损失的患病率为19%。此外，学生音乐家在6000赫兹时听力损失的患病率为85%。对于本次荟萃分析，轻度感音神经性听力损失，即双侧或单侧阈值大于20分贝，被判定为听力损失。
6000赫兹时听力下降可能导致个体无法听到重要的环境因素和高频语音。在此频率下听觉功能不全的大学生可能会因注意力、理解力和记忆力下降而在课堂上表现不佳。尽管学生可能没有意识到其6000赫兹听力损失的影响或并未察觉其存在，但这可能会显著改变他们在大学取得成功的可能性。因此，建议高校实施听力保护计划，以帮助预防学生听力损失，尤其是对于大学音乐家。此外，对大学生进行6000赫兹的听力筛查可能有助于更好地全面检测听力损失。
