Use of Personal Listening Devices Among College Students in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: The objective of the study was to understand the college students' knowledge practices, and preferences regarding the use of Personal Listening Devices (PLDs) during the Covid-19 pandemic. Method: An online questionnaire consisting of 21 closed set questions was completed by 894 college students from varied specialities in India. Results: The majority of the participants were attending online classes using their mobile phones with the supplied wired earbuds. And the majority reported using PLDs for 1-4 hours/day for online classes and for less than 2 hours/day for leisure. Most participants listened at moderate to loud volume levels and used it continuously for 3 hours or more per day, and some used it in a noisy environment. The participants were aware that listening at loud levels and for long-duration could be damaging. Conclusion: The students require professional guidance on hearing health, in order to prevent hearing difficulties and develop a cautious attitude towards hearing conservation.