Bluetooth versus non-Bluetooth earphones and their potential harmful effect on hearing: a cross-sectional study conducted among undergraduate medical students, Saudi Arabia

{
    "publication_year": 2022,
    "study_type": "cross_sectional",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "Bluetooth earphones and non-Bluetooth (wired) earphones",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "More than 1 year of earphone use (reported)"
    },
    "population": "Adult female undergraduate medical students at Majmaah University (Saudi Arabia)",
    "sample_size": 42,
    "outcomes": [
        "Pure-tone audiometry hearing thresholds (dB HL) by frequency",
        "Prevalence of hearing threshold ≥20 dB HL at one or more frequencies",
        "Comparison of hearing thresholds between Bluetooth, non-Bluetooth, and combined-use groups"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In this cross-sectional sample, 85.7% of students had hearing threshold ≥20 dB HL at one or more frequencies, with left ears reported as more affected than right ears and hearing threshold >40 dB HL observed in the left ear. A statistically significant difference was reported only between the combined-use group and the Bluetooth group at 250 Hz in the left ear; no significant differences were observed between groups at other frequencies. Poorer hearing thresholds were reported among those who frequently used earphones, and the authors conclude that combined use of Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth earphones did not show more negative impact than either type alone.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Cross-sectional design (cannot establish causality)",
        "Small sample size (42 participants)",
        "All participants were adult female students from a single university (limited generalizability)",
        "Exposure details (e.g., volume level, exact duration, and device output) not quantified in the abstract",
        "Potential self-report bias in listening habits questionnaire"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "stance": "concern",
    "stance_confidence": 0.66000000000000003108624468950438313186168670654296875,
    "summary": "This cross-sectional study of 42 adult female medical students compared hearing thresholds among users of Bluetooth earphones, non-Bluetooth earphones, and combined use. Most participants (85.7%) had hearing thresholds ≥20 dB HL at one or more frequencies, with the left ear reported as more affected. Group differences were largely not significant, except at 250 Hz in the left ear between combined-use and Bluetooth groups, and the authors report that combined use did not show more negative impact than either type alone.",
    "key_points": [
        "The study assessed hearing using pure-tone audiometry and listening habits via questionnaire.",
        "Among participants, 85.7% had hearing threshold ≥20 dB HL at one or more frequencies.",
        "Left ears were reported as more affected than right ears, with >40 dB HL observed in the left ear.",
        "A significant difference was reported only at 250 Hz in the left ear between combined-use and Bluetooth groups.",
        "No significant differences between groups were reported at other tested frequencies.",
        "Poorer hearing thresholds were observed in frequent earphone users.",
        "The authors conclude that combined Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth use did not add additional risk compared with either alone."
    ],
    "categories": [
        "Hearing & Auditory Effects",
        "Consumer Devices",
        "Radiofrequency (RF)"
    ],
    "tags": [
        "Bluetooth Earphones",
        "Wired Earphones",
        "Pure-Tone Audiometry",
        "Hearing Threshold",
        "Hearing Loss",
        "Undergraduate Students",
        "Cross-Sectional Study",
        "Listening Habits"
    ],
    "keywords": [
        "Bluetooth",
        "non-Bluetooth earphones",
        "hearing threshold",
        "pure-tone audiometry",
        "students",
        "Saudi Arabia"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [],
    "social": {
        "tweet": "Cross-sectional study (n=42) of female medical students compared hearing thresholds in Bluetooth vs wired vs combined earphone users. 85.7% had ≥20 dB HL at ≥1 frequency; group differences were mostly non-significant except at 250 Hz (left ear).",
        "facebook": "A cross-sectional study among 42 female medical students assessed hearing with pure-tone audiometry and compared Bluetooth, wired, and combined earphone use. Most participants had ≥20 dB HL at one or more frequencies, with few significant differences between groups; combined use was not reported to be worse than either type alone.",
        "linkedin": "In a cross-sectional study of 42 adult female medical students, pure-tone audiometry was used to compare hearing thresholds among Bluetooth, wired, and combined earphone users. Most participants showed thresholds ≥20 dB HL at one or more frequencies, while between-group differences were largely not significant except at 250 Hz in the left ear."
    }
}

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