However, this habit is quiet dangerous. A study on this topic showed that more than 1 billion people are on the verge of hearing loss due to the use of earphones and headphones.
Governments and civil societies should promote the practice of safe listening
More than one billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of hearing loss, according to a study published in the journal BMJ Global Health. The reason for this is the use of headphones, earplugs and listening to loud music. According to the international team, which includes researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina, governments around the world should urgently prioritize safe hearing policies for the sake of ear health. According to the researchers, governments, companies and civil society should contribute to the global prevention of deafness by promoting safe listening practices.
430 million people worldwide are deaf
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 430 million people worldwide suffer from hearing loss. Researchers have said that young people using personal listening devices (PLDs) are affecting their hearing ability as they ignore prescribed audio standards.
People are not aware of the prescribed quantity standards
Previously published research suggests that PLD users often use 105 decibels (dB). Meanwhile, the average sound level of nightclubs ranges from 104 to 112 dB. While the sound level was fixed at 80 dB for youth and 75 dB for children.
Explorations of the research
Researchers assessed the unsafe listening practices of teenagers and adults to determine whether they were at risk of hearing loss. Published research databases in English, French, Spanish and Russian were searched, covering age groups between 12 and 34 years. The research examined data from 33 studies published in English, Spanish, French and Russian over the past two decades, involving more than 19,000 participants aged 12-34. It found that 24 percent of young people had minor hearing loss when using headphones with devices such as smartphones. On the other hand, 48 percent suffered hearing loss due to loud exposure at entertainment venues such as concerts or nightclubs.
What is the solution?
Taken together, the results of the study estimate that between 670,000 and 1.35 billion young people may be at risk of hearing loss. To avoid becoming a victim of deafness, you need to lower the volume and listen to things within limits. Headphone users should watch the volume. At the same time, earplugs should be worn in crowded places so that the power of hearing is not damaged.
