Current:Home > MyMore than 1 billion young people could be at risk of hearing loss, a new study shows -FutureFinance
More than 1 billion young people could be at risk of hearing loss, a new study shows
View
Date:2025-04-14 14:54:27
More than 1 billion young people could be at risk of facing hearing loss, a new study shows.
"It is estimated that 0.67–1.35 billion adolescents and young adults worldwide could be at risk of hearing loss from exposure to unsafe listening practices," according to the study, which was published in BMJ Journal on Tuesday.
Recommended noise limits are no more than 85 decibels throughout a 40-hour week. Young people from ages 12 to 35 using devices such as MP3 players and cellphones, actively listened to content at 105 decibels, while the average noise level at entertainment venues was 104 to 112 decibels.
"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.
The scientists analyzed 33 studies from 2000 to 2021, but those studies have not been able to conclude whether the hearing loss was permanent or temporary.
"Temporary threshold shifts and hidden hearing loss likely serve as predictors for irreversible permanent hearing loss and may present as difficulties hearing in challenging listening environments, such as in background noise," the researchers said.
A person's risk of hearing loss depends on how loud, how long and how often they are exposed to certain noises. A sign that you may have engaged in unsafe listening practices is tinnitus, or ringing in the ears.
Impacts of hearing loss
Hearing loss in children can lead to poorer academic performance and reduced motivation and concentration, researchers said.
For adults, hearing loss could be linked to a decline in the state of one's mental health, lower income, depression, cognitive impairment and even heart problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
How to prevent hearing loss
Noise exposure through electronic devices and venues are "a modifiable
risk factor for hearing loss," researchers said, and there are a few things you can do to protect your ears.
- Take a break from the exposure if possible
- Use ear protections, such as foam ear plugs, in loud environments
- Put distance between yourself and the source of the noise, such as loud speakers at an event
- Keep your devices at a safe volume. Some cellphones have features that will alert you when your content is too loud.
veryGood! (91998)
Related
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- Olivia Culpo Shares Glimpse Inside Her and Fiancé Christian McCaffrey's Engagement Party
- Yellen sets new deadline for Congress to raise the debt ceiling: June 5
- Coach 4th of July Deals: These Handbags Are Red, White and Reduced 60% Off
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- Fixit culture is on the rise, but repair legislation faces resistance
- Kyra Sedgwick Serves Up the Secret Recipe to Her and Kevin Bacon's 35-Year Marriage
- NATO Moves to Tackle Military Greenhouse Gas Emissions Even While Girding Against Russia
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- What to know about the federal appeals court hearing on mifepristone
Ranking
- North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
- Cardi B's Head-Turning Paris Fashion Week Looks Will Please You
- Dua Lipa's Birthday Message to Boyfriend Romain Gavras Will Have You Levitating
- Kate Spade 24-Hour Flash Deal: Get This $400 Satchel Bag for Just $89
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Kate Middleton Turns Heads in Royal Blue at King Charles III's Scottish Coronation Ceremony
- Economic forecasters on jobs, inflation and housing
- It’s Happened Before: Paleoclimate Study Shows Warming Oceans Could Lead to a Spike in Seabed Methane Emissions
Recommendation
How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
Welcome to America! Now learn to be in debt
Ice-T Defends Wife Coco Austin After She Posts NSFW Pool Photo
Inside Clean Energy: In the Year of the Electric Truck, Some Real Talk from Texas Auto Dealers
Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
Why Jennifer Lopez Is Defending Her New Alcohol Brand
Study Underscores That Exposure to Air Pollution Harms Brain Development in the Very Young
Study: Pennsylvania Children Who Live Near Fracking Wells Have Higher Leukemia Risk