More Than 1 Billion People Risk Losing Their Hearing, New Study Reveals

According to a recent study, more than 1 billion people, teenagers, as well as adults, are at risk of hearing problems because of excessive use of personal audio devices, such as smartphones.

Also, the researchers from the World Health Organisation found that a prolonged exposure to high level sounds in bars, nightclubs and sporting events can also damage the hearing.

World Health Organisation warns people against using personal audio devices for more than one hour daily.

Researchers at WHO analyzed data from middle and high-income countries and discovered that almost 50% of teenagers and adults who are between the ages of 12 and 3, have an increased risk of developing hearing problems due to the use of personal audio devices.

The study also reveals that 40% of them are exposed to damaging level of sound from entertainment venues like bars and clubs.

The scientists explain that the levels of sound unsafe for the human ear include an excessive exposure to 85 decibels for eight hours, or an exposure to 100 decibels for 15 minutes.

Dr. Etienne Krug, director at the Department for Management of Non-communicable Diseases within WHO, explained that people are exposing themselves to a high risk of hearing loss by doing what they enjoy on a daily basis.

Dr. Krug added that people need to take simple precautions in order to be able to continue doing what they enjoy without risking their hearing.

Experts recommend that the highest level of acceptable exposure to noise at the workplace is approximately 85 decibels, for up to 8 hours a day.

The researchers explained that owners of bars, nightclubs or sporting events are often exposed to higher levels of sound, which means that they should reduce the exposure in order to stay healthy.

According to the scientists, exposing oneself to levels of 100 decibels, which is the typical sound level in entertainment venues, should not be longer than 15 minutes.

Young people, especially teenagers, can protect their hearing by turning down the volume on their personal audio devices.

They can also wear earplugs in noisy clubs, or they can update their earphone of headphones with noise-cancelling technology.
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