There is a growing concern about the increasing exposure to loud sounds in nightclubs, discos, bars, cinemas, concert halls, sports arenas, and even gymnasiums and other places of recreational activity. With the spread of technology, people are often playing at unsafe volumes when using devices such as music players and listening for too long. There is a risk of irreversible hearing loss from regular participation in such activities. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.1 billion young people worldwide are at risk of hearing loss caused by unsafe ear habits. more than 43 million people aged 12-35 years have disabling hearing loss from a variety of causes. Among adolescents and young adults aged 12-35 in middle- and high-income countries: nearly half turn up unsafe levels of volume when listening on personal audio devices such as MP3 players and smartphones. About 40 percent are exposed to potentially damaging sound levels in nightclubs, discos and bars. How can I protect my hearing? Keep the volume low. You can turn down the volume when listening to personal audio equipment. It is wise to listen within the hearing safe range. Determine the hearing safety level of your personal audio device and set its volume at a comfortable level of no more than 60% of the maximum volume in a quiet environment. Bring earplugs. If you frequent nightclubs, discos, bars, sports arenas and other noisy places, use earplugs to protect your hearing. Well-placed earplugs can greatly reduce the volume of noise to which you are exposed. Use appropriate plug-in/headphones and, if possible, noise-cancelling headphones. If properly selected, headphones allow the user to hear music even at reduced volumes. Noise-canceling headphones reduce background noise so that you can hear the sound at a lower volume. Limit the amount of time spent in noisy activities. The duration of exposure to noise is one of the most important factors in determining overall sound energy levels. There are ways to help reduce the duration of sustained exposure to noise. It is wise to give your auditory organs a short break from time to time. When going to nightclubs, discos, bars, sporting events, and other noisy venues, leaving from time to time to give your auditory organs a short break can help reduce the total duration of noise exposure. Avoid loud noises. In noisy places, try to stay away from amplifiers and other sources of sound. Staying in quieter areas of the premises can also reduce exposure to noise. Limit the amount of time you spend using personal audio equipment each day. While reducing the volume can play an important role, limiting the use of personal audio devices to no more than one hour per day is very beneficial in reducing exposure to noise. Monitor hearing safety levels Use smartphone technology to measure noise exposure levels to inform yourself of the risk of noisy hearing loss from personal audio devices. Some cell phone applications can display noise intensity in decibels, indicating whether the noise level of exposure is dangerous. Know your products and their safety features and hearing safety levels. Watch for signs of hearing loss Seek help from a hearing health care professional if you experience ringing in the ears, have difficulty hearing high pitched sounds such as doorbells, telephone bells and alarm bells, have trouble hearing people speak (especially on the phone), or have trouble following people’s conversations in noisy environments such as restaurants or other social settings. Regular Hearing Screenings Take advantage of services available in schools, workplaces and communities to get regular hearing screenings. Such screenings can help detect the first signs of hearing loss early. Protect your hearing. Once you lose your hearing, you don’t lose it back!