Over one billion people at run a risk of hearing loss: WHO

Alerting that over one billion people aged 12 to 35, risking losing their hearing due to prolonged and excessive exposure to loud music and other high volume recreational noise, the World Health Arrangement (WHO) issued new international safety advice on Wednesday to tackle the rising threat of hearing loss.

The new international standard for safe listening at venues and events was launched ahead of World Hearing Twenty-four hour period marked on 3 March on the theme, To hear for life, listen with intendance! It applies to all places and activities where amplified music is played.

Over 1.5 billion people globally live with hearing loss, and according to recent estimates this number could rise to over 2.v billion by 2030. WHO estimates that 50 per cent of hearing loss can be prevented through public wellness measures.

Prevention is cardinal

According to the United nations health agency, many common causes of hearing loss tin can be prevented, including over-exposure to loftier book sounds.

"Millions of teenagers and immature people are at gamble of hearing loss due to the unsafe apply of personal sound devices and exposure to damaging sound levels at venues such as nightclubs, bars, concerts and sporting events," said Dr Bente Mikkelsen, WHO Manager for the Department for Noncommunicable Diseases.

"The risk is intensified equally nigh audio devices, venues and events do non provide safe listening options and contribute to the risk of hearing loss", she added.

The new WHO standard aims to better safeguard young people as they enjoy their leisure activities.

New recommendations

The Global standard for prophylactic listening at venues and events, highlights six recommendations for implementation to ensure that venues and events limit the risk of hearing loss to their patrons, while still preserving loftier-quality audio and an enjoyable listening experience.

The six recommendations outline:

  • A maximum average audio level of 100 decibels.
  • Live monitoring and recording of sound levels using calibrated equipment.
  • Optimizing venue acoustics and audio systems to ensure enjoyable sound quality and rubber listening.
  • Making personal hearing protection available to audiences including instructions on employ.
  • Access to tranquility zones for people to rest their ears and decrease the risk of hearing damage.
  • And, provision of grooming and information to staff.
A boy listens to music with headphones in Tehran, Iran

Unsplash/Alireza Attari

A male child listens to music with headphones in Tehran, Iran

Make listening safe

The new standard was developed under WHO's Make Listening Rubber initiative, which was launched in 2015, and seeks to amend listening practices especially among immature people.

WHO alerted that hearing loss due to loud sounds is permanent, underlining that exposure to loud sounds causes temporary hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing audio interference in the ears), and prolonged or repeated exposure can lead to permanent hearing impairment, resulting in irreversible hearing loss.

Immature people can better protect their hearing past:

  • Keeping the volume down on personal audio devices
  • Using well-fitted, and if possible, noise-cancelling earphones/headphones
  • Wearing earplugs at noisy venues
  • Getting regular hearing cheque-ups

Work together

Calling for the new global standard to be supported, WHO encouraged governments to develop and enforce legislation for safe listening and raise awareness of the risks of hearing loss.

The United nations agency also advised that behaviour alter tin be motivated by civil social club organizations, parents, teachers, and physicians, who can brainwash young people to practice safe listening habits.

"Governments, civil society and private sector entities such as manufacturers of personal audio devices, audio systems, and video gaming equipment besides equally owners and managers of entertainment venues and events have an important role to play in advocating for the new global standard," said Dr Ren Minghui, WHO Banana Director-General.

"Nosotros must work together to promote safety listening practices, specially among young people", he concluded.