iarjimphIARJIMPHIARJIMPH2709-331Xhttps://doi.org/10.47310/iarjimph.2023.v04i01.003Assessment of risk factors for Hearing impairment among MBBS students of Tertiary Care Hospital in the Hilly state of Northern IndiaAmitSachdevaSethiBackground: Hearing problems are among the most common problems encountered in the community and are associated with long-term academic and communicative difficulties. With this background, this study aimed to assess the risk factors for Hearing impairment among MBBS students of Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional survey was carried out utilizing a Google form which was distributed among MBBS students for responses via online means like email and social media platforms like WhatsApp groups, Facebook and Instagram. We collected data on their socio-demographic traits and risk factors for Hearing impairment. Epi info v7 software was used to evaluate the data using the necessary statistical tests. Results: A total of 285 MBBS students were participated in the present survey. Among them 135 (47.4%) were male while 150 (52.6%) were females, 141 (49.5%) were ≤20 Years while 144 (50.5%) were more than 20 years old. 87(30.5%) participants had more than seven risk factors for hearing impairment but there was no significant difference between participants in risk scoring according to gender and age group. 250(87.7%) participants spent > 2 hours per day on mobile/laptop/TV/computer for calling purposes/ watching Movies or serials/ listening music etc. 107(37.5%) use of earphone > 2 hours per day, 32(11.2%) were using earphones that were not properly fitted to their ears,116(58.2%) had set the volume of their earphone above 60% ,244(85.6%) didn’t ever screen their ears for hearing and 262(91.9%) didn’t know about any mobile application for hearing screening. Usage of earphone was significantly more (>2 hours/day) among females as compared to males (46.0% vs 28.1%). Significantly more number of males had habit of going to noisy places like Disco/pubs/ factories/ concerts etc. as compared to females (17.0% vs 8.0%). Time spent on mobile/laptop/TV/computer per day was significantly more (>2 hours/day) in age group of ≤20 years as compared to age group >20 years (93.6% vs81.9%). Conclusion: The findings of this study concluded that majority of MBBS students had one or more risk factors for hearing impairment and had average level of personal awareness regarding Hearing Impairment and didn’t know about screening methods for hearing impairment. Study highlighted the importance to educate young MBBS students about hearing impairment in order to help prevent it.