Potential Harm to Hearing from Regular Use of Headphones
Headphone Use and Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: A Growing Concern for Young People Worldwide
A growing concern for young people worldwide is the risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), caused by prolonged exposure to loud music through personal audio devices.
In 1998, an audiologist named Brian Fligor examined a 15-year-old boy with hearing loss, discovering that his high volume settings on his discman and headphones were responsible for his condition [1]. This landmark study led to increased awareness of the risks associated with headphone use, particularly as the rise of portable music players like the iPod became more prevalent.
More recent studies, such as one published in 2022 by a group of researchers working with the World Health Organization, have highlighted the extent of this problem. They found that about a quarter of young people, 24%, are listening to personal listening devices at a risky level, while about half, or 48%, are regularly attending loud entertainment venues [2].
The risk of hearing loss from headphones is dose-dependent, with both the loudness and exposure time being critical factors. Prolonged exposure to noise at 80 dB can cause damage, and brief exposure to sounds above 110 dB can adversely affect hearing. Modern devices and headphones produce sounds at lower levels compared to CD players of the past, but this does not necessarily reduce the risk of hearing loss due to the cumulative effects of long-term exposure.
The World Health Organization has taken steps to address this issue. In 2019, they released international standards for audio device manufacturers to standardize safe listening, and in 2022, they released new standards for gaming that include measures like messages to let gamers know when the volume is too loud or they're hitting the maximum safe sound dosage for the day [3]. Some upcoming safety features, based on WHO standards, should be dropping from major manufacturers, including notifications on smartphones when listening to something too loud.
The consequences of NIHL extend beyond hearing loss, with noise-induced hearing impairment linked to cognitive issues such as dementia in later life, emphasizing the long-term public health impact. Early hearing loss increases cognitive load, reduces social engagement, and can contribute to mental health disorders such as anxiety and tinnitus. Prevention is critical, as NIHL is entirely preventable through safer listening habits and awareness.
In summary, high headphone use at unsafe volumes delivers damaging sound dosages leading to increased NIHL in young people globally. This leads to early hearing impairment, often unnoticed at first, with serious long-term cognitive and social consequences. With over 1 billion individuals potentially at risk for hearing loss from loud sound exposure, increased awareness and protective measures among young headphone users worldwide are essential.
References:
- Fligor, B. (1998). Noise-induced hearing loss in a 15-year-old boy: A case report. The Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 9(6), 397-403.
- World Health Organization. (2022). Noise and hearing loss: Fact sheet. Retrieved from www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noise-and-hearing-loss
- World Health Organization. (2019). Safe listening during gaming: Guidelines for the prevention of hearing loss and tinnitus among gamers. Retrieved from www.who.int/publications/i/item/safe-listening-during-gaming-guidelines-for-the-prevention-of-hearing-loss-and-tinnitus-among-gamers
- Regularly neglecting health-and-wellness by exposure to high volumes through headphones could lead to medical-conditions, such as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), which can have serious long-term cognitive and social consequences.
- Apart from hearing loss, research links noise-induced hearing impairment to mental-health disorders like anxiety and tinnitus, stressing the importance of understanding the effects of fitness-and-exercise and nutrition on mental health in conjunction with safe listening habits.
- To combat the growing concern of NIHL among young people worldwide, it's essential to implement science-backed strategies, such as the WHO's international standards for audio device manufacturers, which promote health-and-wellness by standardizing safe listening and generating awareness about the risks associated with headphone use.
