Video Head Impulse test findings in young adults with long-term use of Personal Listening Devices

TL;DR

This study found no significant balance issues in young adults who use personal listening devices at moderately high volumes for over a year.

Contribution

The study provides new evidence that long-term high-volume PLD use does not cause measurable vestibular dysfunction in young adults.

Findings

Participants in the experimental group had higher PLD output levels compared to the control group.

No significant differences in vHIT parameters were found between the two groups.

All vHIT results remained within normal clinical limits.

Abstract

The prolonged use of personal listening devices (PLDs) at high volumes may impact both hearing and balance. This study aimed to investigate whether high-volume PLD use leads to early vestibular changes detectable through the video head impulse test (vHIT) in normal-hearing individuals.

A total of 100 participants aged 15–24 years with normal hearing and PLD use at >60% of the maximum volume were included. They were divided into two groups: control (>1 year of PLD use) and experimental (>1 year of PLD use). Output sound levels near the tympanic membrane were measured using the microphone-in-real-ear (MIRE) method, followed by vHIT assessment of all six semicircular canals. The parameters analysed included vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain, precision rate (PR) score, and covert saccades. The data were analysed via descriptive statistics and the Mann–Whitney U test.

The results revealed that the experimental group listened to significantly higher PLD output levels, but no significant differences were observed in the vHIT parameters between the groups.

All findings remained within normal clinical limits. The results suggest that prolonged PLD use at moderately high volumes does not cause measurable semicircular canal dysfunction. However, continued promotion of safe listening practices remains essential for long-term auditory and vestibular health.

Figures