Turning up the volume when your song comes on the radio is a natural instinct. It’s like having your very own concert in your living room (or car). But, if you listen to Adele’s “Hello” at the loudest volume for long periods of time, you just might be asking “Can you hear me?” instead of singing it.
Audiologists at Specsavers Opticians and Hearing Centre in the U.K. found that an increasing number of young adults are requesting hearing test after reporting a ringing or buzzing noise in the ear, a common symptom of tinnitus.
Tinnitus is a form of temporary hearing loss that causes a ringing sensation in the ear.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), roughly 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of hearing loss due to the unsafe use of personal audio devices. Dangerous noise levels, above 82 decibels, are often experienced with the use of smartphones and regularly visiting loud venues like nightclubs, concerts and sporting events.
Dangerous noise levels can also occur in the workplace, like factories and call centers. WHO warns than suffering from hearing loss may negatively affect employment and educational settings.
“Once you lose your hearing, it won’t come back. Taking simple preventive actions will allow people to continue to enjoy themselves without putting their hearing at risk,” said Dr. Etienne Krug, the WHO director of the Department of Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention.
Can You Hear Me Now? The Long-Term Effects Of Loud Noise was originally published on blackdoctor.org
