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Today, around 500 million people in this age group already suffer from hearing loss.
More than one billion people aged 12 to 35 could face significant hearing loss by 2050 if current trends continue.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning about the growing risk of hearing loss among young people around the world. According to a new report, more than 1 billion people aged 12 to 35 could suffer significant hearing loss by 2050 if current trends continue. The WHO’s “Make Listening Safe” guidelines highlighted that the main cause of this potential crisis was the widespread use of earphones, headphones and other personal listening devices at dangerously high volumes.
Today, around 500 million people in this age group already suffer from hearing loss, with 25% of these cases attributed to prolonged exposure to personal audio devices at high volume. In addition, 50% of those affected are exposed to loud music in entertainment venues such as clubs, cinemas and gyms.
The report highlighted that typical volume levels on personal listening devices ranged from 75 to 136 decibels, with higher values posing a serious risk to hearing health.
Dr BP Sharma, a former professor of otorhinolaryngology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, warned that the safe listening level was between 20 and 30 decibels, the volume of a normal conversation. Prolonged exposure to higher volumes can damage sensory cells in the ears, leading to irreversible hearing loss.
Dr. Sharma also noted that noise-induced deafness is permanent as there are currently no effective treatments or surgical options to repair damaged high-frequency nerves.
To prevent hearing loss, WHO recommends keeping the volume of personal devices between 75 and 105 decibels and limiting listening time. The organization stresses that prevention is essential, since once damage has occurred, it cannot be reversed.
