Recent analysis reveals of 1 billion youngsters may suffer from deafness

• Image Credit: Telangana Today

• Nov 18, 2022 | Poonam Nath

Approximately 1.35 billion teens worldwide may be at risk of hearing loss as a result of perilous listening behaviours...

Digital Desk: Following a new study, more than 1 billion young people may be in danger of hearing loss. 

According to the study, which was published in the BMJ Journal on Tuesday, "it is projected that 0.67-1.35 billion adolescents and young adults globally might be at risk of hearing loss from exposure to risky listening behaviours." 

During a 40-hour week, noise levels should not exceed 85 dB. Young individuals aged 12 to 35 actively listened to the content at 105 decibels using gadgets such as MP3 players and cellphones, while the average noise level at entertainment venues was 104 to 112 dB.

"Damage from unsafe listening can accumulate throughout a person's life, and noise exposure earlier in life may render individuals more sensitive to age-related hearing loss," the researchers said. 

The authors looked at 33 research from 2000 to 2021, but none of them could determine whether the hearing loss was permanent or transient. 

"Temporary threshold changes and concealed hearing loss are likely predictors of irreversible permanent hearing loss and may manifest as difficulty hearing in adverse listening circumstances, such as background noise," the researchers explained.

The risk of hearing loss depends on how loud, how long, and how frequently a person is exposed to specific noises. Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is a symptom that you may have engaged in harmful listening activities.

Following are some points that should be kept in mind for the prevention from deafness: 

1| If possible, take a break from the radiation. 

2| In noisy areas, use ear protection, such as foam ear plugs. 

3| Remove yourself from the source of the noise, such as loudspeakers during an event. 

4| Maintain a safe volume on your gadgets. Some cell phones include capabilities that will notify you if the volume of your content is too high.

"Unsafe listening practices are widely popular worldwide and may put over 1 billion young people at risk of hearing damage," the researchers wrote in their conclusion.