According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 430 million people worldwide, of all ages, currently suffer from a hearing loss that is incapacitating.

Due to their frequent use of personal listening devices (PLDs) like smartphones, headphones, and earbuds as well as their attendance at loud music venues in an environment with lax regulatory enforcement, young people are particularly vulnerable.

“Recurrent or even single instances of unsafe listening may cause physiological damage to the auditory system, presenting as transient or permanent tinnitus and/or changes to hearing,” the researchers said.

“Damage from unsafe listening can compound over the life course, and noise exposure earlier in life may make individuals more vulnerable to age-related hearing loss.”

Researchers said, “Unsafe listening practices are highly prevalent worldwide and may place over 1 billion young people at risk of hearing loss.

“These findings highlight the urgent need to implement policy focused on safe listening habits worldwide in order to promote hearing loss prevention.”

Source: The Guardian