The Philly Voice have reported ‘nearly half of young people are listening to music too loudly.’
Exposure to high noise levels can unfortunately lead to permanent hearing loss. Although this may be irreversible, there are many ways in which you can prevent hearing loss.
Audiologist have suggested everyday conversations occur at or below 70 decibels and the volume on your headphones shouldn’t be much higher than that (85 decibels for adults and 75 decibels for children)
It is believed research could help promote healthy listening behaviour. Below are some tips suggested by experts:
- Listening to personal audio devices below 60% of the maximum volume
- Wearing earplugs in noisy venues and moving away from sources of loud sound, I.e. loudspeakers
- Take short listening breaks away from loud sounds and limit the daily use of personal audio devices
Recent studies published in the journal BMJ Global Health suggest that 24% of 12–34-year-olds are at risk of hearing loss because of their use of headphones, earphones/earbuds and visiting noisy venues. Young people are particularly vulnerable because of their use of personal listening devices; namely smartphones and headphones.
Researchers estimated that teenagers and young adults are listening to music at an ‘unsafe level’. They want the Government to implement safe listening policies as a matter of urgency.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that more than 430 million people worldwide currently have disabling hearing loss.
Researchers have stated “Recurrent or even single instances of unsafe listening may cause physiological damage to the auditory system, present as transient (short-term) or permanent tinnitus and/or changes to hearing”.
It is widely known being exposed to loud noise is harmful to the inner ear. Even one time, exposure to extremely louds sounds can cause hearing loss.
As well as hearing loss, most individuals suffer from tinnitus, which is a noise they experience in one or both of their ears.
Tinnitus is when an individual experiences noise that comes from the inside of your body; an internal noise, as opposed to external sounds, I.e., coming from the outside world. Tinnitus can be a ringing, buzzing, hissing, chirping, whistling, clicking, roaring, only you can hear.
If you want to read more, here are the mentioned articles:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/15/one-billion-young-people-risk-hearing-loss-from-loud-music?amp
https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star/news/headphones-earbuds-and-loud-music-youngsters-at-high-risk-of-hearing-loss-study-finds-3396defb-257f-487d-b57a-feafefae9e1c
Similar articles:
https://www.phillyvoice.com/safe-headphone-volume-loud-music-hearing-loss/
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/15/one-billion-young-people-risk-hearing-loss-from-loud-music?amp
https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star/news/headphones-earbuds-and-loud-music-youngsters-at-high-risk-of-hearing-loss-study-finds-3396defb-257f-487d-b57a-feafefae9e1c
Tinnitus Helpline with British Tinnitus Association.
Further reading
If you believe you have suffered hearing loss after being exposure at work and have questions, visit our Q&A page.
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Rabina Khaleeq is a Paralegal in the Industrial Disease Department. Before joining the firm, Rabina worked at Direct Line Group for 8 years as a Claims Handler predominantly dealing with Road Traffic …
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