February 27, 2015 | Geneva – Some 1.1 billion adolescents and young people are at risk of hearing loss due to the unsafe use of personal audio devices, such as smartphones, and exposure to hearing-impairing sound levels in noisy entertainment venues, such as nightclubs, pubs and sports stadiums, according to WHO. Hearing loss can have extremely serious consequences for physical and mental health, education and employment. A WHO analysis of data from studies in middle- and high-income countries shows that nearly 50 per cent of adolescents and young people aged 12 to 35 years use personal audio devices at unsafe levels, and about 40 per cent are exposed to sound levels in entertainment venues that are likely to be damaging. For example, exposure to sound levels above 85 decibels for eight consecutive hours or 100 decibels for 15 minutes is considered unsafe. Dr. Etienne Krug, Director of WHO’s Division of Non-communicable Disease Management, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention, said, “An increasing number of young people are at risk of hearing loss during their daily recreational activities. They should know that once hearing is lost, it is not lost again. And by taking simple precautions, people can continue to enjoy recreational activities without damaging their hearing.” Hearing safety depends on the intensity or size of the sound and the duration and frequency of listening. Exposure to loud sounds may cause temporary hearing loss or tinnitus. Permanent damage to the sensory cells of the ear can result in irreversible hearing loss if the volume is extraordinarily loud or if the exposure is regular or of excessive duration. WHO Recommendations WHO recommends a maximum daily noise exposure limit of 85 dB in the workplace for up to 8 hours. Many patrons of nightclubs, bars and sporting events are routinely exposed to even higher sound levels, and exposure times should be significantly reduced. For example, noise at such venues typically reaches 100 decibels, which can be detrimental to hearing if exposure lasts longer than 15 minutes. Adolescents and young adults can better protect their hearing by turning down the volume of personal audio devices, wearing earplugs in noisy places, and using appropriate in-ear or over-the-head headphones, preferably noise-canceling headphones. They can also limit the amount of time they spend engaged in noisy activities, give their hearing organs short breaks from time to time, and limit the use of their personal audio devices to less than an hour. They can monitor safe hearing levels with the help of smartphone apps. They should also be aware of the warning signs of hearing loss and have their hearing checked regularly. The government also has a role to play by enacting and enforcing strict entertainment noise laws and raising awareness of the risks of hearing loss through public information campaigns. Parents, teachers and doctors can educate young people about safe hearing, while managers of entertainment venues can maintain safe noise levels in their venues, use volume controls, and provide earplugs and “quiet rooms” to patrons. Manufacturers can design personal audio devices with safety features and display safe hearing messages in their products and on their packaging. “Protect Your Hearing” program International Ear Care Day is celebrated on March 3 each year. WHO is launching the Protect Your Hearing initiative to draw attention to the dangers of unsafe hearing and promote safer behaviors. WHO works with partners around the world to draw the attention of young people and their families to the risk of noise-induced hearing loss and to urge governments to pay more attention to the issue and make broader efforts to prevent hearing loss in general. Globally, 360 million people currently have moderate to severe hearing loss due to a variety of reasons, including noise, genetic disorders, complications from childbirth, certain infectious diseases, chronic infections of the ear, use of certain medications, and aging. It is estimated that half of all cases of hearing loss are avoidable. To address this issue, WHO is compiling data and information on hearing loss to identify prevalence, causes and effects, and opportunities for prevention and management of hearing loss; assisting countries in the development and implementation of hearing health-care planning and its integration into primary health-care systems; and providing technical resources for the training of health workers.