Use of Sound Devices by Teenagers

Objective To verify the use of electronic device (iPods, MP3s, cell phones, and PCs) by teenagers who are students in public schools of São Paulo, Brazil. Method Carried out in a school in São Paulo/Brazil in 2011 and involving students from 10 to 17 years. The sample answered a questionnaire containing questions which referred to electronic devices: type of phones (external, internal, and occlusive), times and places used, elevated volume. Chi‐square was done and considered P <. 05. Results Among the 249 teenagers studied, 55.8% were girls, the average age was 12.6 years (±1.42 years). Use of phones: 89.9% girls and 73.6% boys ( P =. 01). Type: 17% external, 18.9% internal, and 64.1% occlusive. Time of usage: cell phone, ‐ >1 h/d by 26.4% girls and 38.3% boys ( P =. 03); iPod/MP3, ‐ >1 h/d by 26.4% girls and 18.5% boys ( P =. 06). Related to the places: 50% streets, 87% home, 45% car, 31% subway, 47% bus, and 21% park. Elevated volume in cell phone: 28% by girls and 35.8% by boys ( P =. 83); in iPod/MP3, 16.7% and 25.9% ( P =. 06) for girls and boys, respectively. Conclusion The elevated percentage of teenagers using electronic devices in an inadequate way points to the necessity of concerning the topic as a way to avoid risks and future auditory loss.