Personal Listening Device, Personal Headphones, and Song Choice's Influence on Preferred Listening Levels.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in preferred listening levels when altering song choice, listening device, and transducer (headphone) type, while controlling previously uncontrolled variables.

Method: Twenty-one college students completed the repeated-measures design. Pure-tone audiometry and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) were completed pre- and postmethods to determine the presence of a temporary threshold shift (TTS). The external auditory meatus sound pressure level (EAM SPL) was measured as participants listened to the researchers' and their songs via their personal device and the researchers' computer using in-the-ear, over-the-ear, in-the-canal, and their personal transducers. Paired t tests were completed on pure-tone thresholds and DPOAE amplitude. A four-factor multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA; p = .05) investigated the presence of an EAM SPL difference between songs, transducers, and devices. A second four-factor MANOVA investigated a difference between the participants' and matched researchers' transducers by ear, song, and device.

Results: No TTS was identified. The computer produced significantly lower EAM SPL compared to the participants' device. Over-the-ear transducers produced significantly lower EAM SPLs compared to in-the-ear, in-the-canal, and the participants' transducers. The participants' transducers produced significantly lower EAM SPLs compared to in-the-canal style.

Conclusions: Preferred listening levels are inconsistent across devices. Over-the-ear transducers and the computer present the lowest hearing loss risk as they produced the lowest EAM SPLs. Caution is urged with personal listening device use regarding the duration of listening time and volume levels.