1 BILLION TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS AT RISK OF HEARING LOSS, WHO REPORTS

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Share this

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 8, 2015 (San Diego)--Here’s some news that may not be music to your ears.

The World Health Organization, or WHO, reports that over a billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of losing their hearing.

WHO studied listening habits of people age 12 to 35 around the world and found that nearly 50% listen to sound levels that can damage hearing on personal audio devices – and about 40% are exposed to harmful levels of music and other sound at entertainment venues such as sports bars and nightclubs.

You can have permanent hearing damage in as little as 15 minutes when exposed to noise levels of 100 decibels – levels found to be common in nightclubs and sports bars.

Besides hearing loss, people can also suffer ringing in the ears.  In about half the people with hearing loss, the damage was avoidable – not tied to age, genetics or disease. 

WHO has launched the  Make Listening Safe initiative. It  asks manufacturers to create audio safety features and teach consumers how to use them.  WHO also suggests that parents, teachers and doctors educate young people on safe listening habits and that entertainment venues set safe noise level limits, as well as offering earplugs and “chill out” rooms for customers.  WHO is also urging governments to establish and enforce laws that would restrict noise in recreational venues.

-- Here are a few tips to save your hearing:

Turn the volume down to 60% or less.

Wear noise canceling earbuds, or better yet, headphones.

Take "listening breaks" or restrict listening to only an hour a day

Download a smartphone app to help measure safe listening levels.

If you visit a loud bar, nightclub, concert or sports event, use ear protection devices such as headphones, to help save your hearing.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

Comments

Ear Protection

Ear plugs. Who would wear headphones to a bar or club? http://www.amazon.com/3M-E-A-Rsoft-Earplugs-Conservation-311-1252/dp/B008MCU4CW