Key TakeawaysNearly 1 billion young people worldwide are at risk of hearing loss, according to a new study.Loud noises from personal listening devices and entertainment venues could place young people at risk of developing hearing loss early in life.Experts recommend keeping the volume low, using disposable earplugs at concerts, and other safe listening practices.

Key Takeaways

Nearly 1 billion young people worldwide are at risk of hearing loss, according to a new study.Loud noises from personal listening devices and entertainment venues could place young people at risk of developing hearing loss early in life.Experts recommend keeping the volume low, using disposable earplugs at concerts, and other safe listening practices.

The study found that more than 1 billion adolescents and young people worldwide could be at risk for developing permanent hearing loss from exposure to common and unsafe listening practices.

Early- and Late-Stage Signs of Hearing Loss

Dillard and her colleagues analyzed data from other studies published between 2000 and 2021 which examined personal listening devices and unsafe listening practices.

The analysis included 33 studies involving about 19,000 people between the ages of 12 to 34. About 24% of young people listened to music too loudly from their phones or music players, while 48% attended noisy venues that could impact their hearing. In addition, the researchers concluded that the number of young people at risk of hearing loss from exposure to these unsafe listening practices ranges between 0.67 to 1.35 billion.

What Is Considered a Dangerous Noise Level?

Sound is measured in units called decibels (dB). The higher the decibel level, the louder the noise is.For example, normal conversations can range from 60 to 70 dB, whereas a motorcycle engine, sporting event, or concert can range from 95 to 110 dB.

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders recommends keeping sounds at or below 70 dB. However, long or repeated exposure to sounds and noises at or above 85 dB could cause hearing loss.In addition, loud noise above 120 dB can cause immediate harm to your ears.

Over the course of an eight-hour day, the average noise level should not be more than 85 dB, per theNational Institute of Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH). Additionally, sounds that are 100 dB should not be listened to for more than 15 minutes.

How to Prevent Hearing Loss: 6 Tips

Why Are Younger People at Higher Risk of Hearing Loss?

Younger people are particularly vulnerable to hearing loss because of their frequent use of personal listening devices, such as smartphones, headphones, and speakers, according to Viral Tejani, AuD, PhD, an audiologist and assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Adolescents and young adults are also more likely to visit entertainment venues, nightclubs, concerts, movies, and sporting events. Engaging in these activities places them at risk of developing hearing loss early in life.

“What can occur as a result of attending these events is a temporary threshold shift,” Tejani told Verywell in an email. “There is a temporary decline in hearing that recovers. However, this recovery isn’t really a true recovery.”

Tejani explained that sounds are funneled to the sensory cells—also called hair cells—in the hearing system. These hair cells are responsible for sending to our brain through complex pathways. However, “our hair cells are not always going to be resilient—repeated noise exposure will eventually compromise our hair cell function and lead to diminished hearing ability,” he said.

Loud noise exposure can also causetinnitus—a ringing, humming, crackling, or roaring in the ears. It can occur along with hearing loss.

What Is Conductive Hearing Loss?

What Can You Do to Prevent Hearing Loss?

You can still enjoy listening to music while protecting your hearing, experts say. Here are some recommendations:

If you’re concerned about hearing loss or want to know ways to reduce your risk of hearing loss, have a conversation with your healthcare provider. You can also consider checking your hearing using validated apps before seeking professional medical care.

What This Means For YouIf you use personal listening devices or visit loud music venues, you may be at risk of hearing loss. Experts say you should lower the volume of personal listening devices and practice safe listening habits to lower your risk. Consider talking with a healthcare provider if you have any concerns or want to know more ways to reduce the risk of hearing loss.

What This Means For You

If you use personal listening devices or visit loud music venues, you may be at risk of hearing loss. Experts say you should lower the volume of personal listening devices and practice safe listening habits to lower your risk. Consider talking with a healthcare provider if you have any concerns or want to know more ways to reduce the risk of hearing loss.

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dillard LK, Arunda MO, Lopez-Perez L, et al.Prevalence and global estimates of unsafe listening practices in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review and metaanalysis.BMJ Glob Health. 2022;7(11):e010501. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010501World Health Organization.Deafness and hearing loss.National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Noise-induced hearing loss,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What noises cause hearing loss?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Noise and hearing loss prevention.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dillard LK, Arunda MO, Lopez-Perez L, et al.Prevalence and global estimates of unsafe listening practices in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review and metaanalysis.BMJ Glob Health. 2022;7(11):e010501. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010501World Health Organization.Deafness and hearing loss.National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Noise-induced hearing loss,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What noises cause hearing loss?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Noise and hearing loss prevention.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Dillard LK, Arunda MO, Lopez-Perez L, et al.Prevalence and global estimates of unsafe listening practices in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review and metaanalysis.BMJ Glob Health. 2022;7(11):e010501. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010501World Health Organization.Deafness and hearing loss.National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Noise-induced hearing loss,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What noises cause hearing loss?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Noise and hearing loss prevention.

Dillard LK, Arunda MO, Lopez-Perez L, et al.Prevalence and global estimates of unsafe listening practices in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review and metaanalysis.BMJ Glob Health. 2022;7(11):e010501. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010501

World Health Organization.Deafness and hearing loss.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Noise-induced hearing loss,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What noises cause hearing loss?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Noise and hearing loss prevention.

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