Ear diseases among secondary school students in Xi'an, China: The role of portable audio device use, insomnia and academic stress
2011

Ear Diseases in Xi'an Secondary School Students

Sample size: 1567 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Chen Yang, Li Xu, Xu Zhan, Li Zonghua, Zhang Pengzhi, He Ya, Wang Fangyuan, Qiu Jianhua

Primary Institution: Fourth Military Medical University

Hypothesis

Is there a relationship between ear diseases and the use of portable audio devices, insomnia, and academic stress among secondary school students in Xi'an, China?

Conclusion

There is a high prevalence of ear disease among secondary school students, and insomnia and excessive use of portable audio devices may be related to adolescent sensorineural hearing loss.

Supporting Evidence

  • 3.32% of students had some form of ear disease.
  • Boys had a higher prevalence of ear disease than girls.
  • Sensorineural hearing loss was significantly associated with insomnia and portable audio device use.

Takeaway

Many students in Xi'an have ear problems, and using loud music devices and not sleeping well can make it worse.

Methodology

A stratified random sampling survey was conducted in 29 secondary schools, collecting demographics, medical histories, and performing otologic examinations.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to self-reported data on device use and stress levels.

Limitations

The study only included urban and suburban students, not rural students.

Participant Demographics

1567 students aged 12 to 19, with 793 boys and 774 girls.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Confidence Interval

95% confidence interval 2.128-8.578

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2458-11-445

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