title: College students' personal listening device usage and knowledge.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the usage and knowledge of safe limits on personal listening devices (PLD) among college students.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, information on health history was collected. Second, microphone in real ear techniques determined eardrum to free-field correction factors. Third, hearing levels were evaluated and information gathered about knowledge of safe listening behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  180 college students participated in a one-hour session using their PLDs and earphones set to their personal preference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Virtually all participants reported knowledge of hearing loss risk due to PLD use and accurately recognized their own PLD listening levels (p = .01) as either within or exceeding safe sound limits. Forty-four subjects listened at greater than 80-dBA free-field equivalent levels. Only 7% of these participants were aware of these hazardous levels and 15% of participants' exposure surpassed free-field equivalent levels normalized to eight hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite reported knowledge of hearing loss risk due to PLD use in virtually all college students, 1 in 4 were found to listen to their PLDs at free-field equivalent levels greater than 80-dBA, with 94% unaware of their potential risk. Further research is needed to provide accurate PLD listening information and evaluate the possibility of long term PLD intensities that surpass recommended safety levels on hearing loss in adults over time.
authors.affiliation: * Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Miami University , Oxford, Ohio , USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hutchinson Marron
authors.forename: Kendrah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marchiondo
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wharton
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Brittany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sproat
authors.forename: Helaine
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alessio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception; D055539:MP3-Player / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Noise-induced hearing loss; health knowledge; hearing perceptions; hearing protection; music; personal listening device