The rise of hearing loss shows a direct correlation with the evolution of wearable audio devices. Shreena Patel, a Hearing Aids manager at Clinic Compare, advises, “Quite often we are so concerned with trying to drown out every bit of background noise to try and hear our favorite podcast, playlist or film in peace that we are completely ignoring that those high volume levels are actually going in to our ears. Reports have shown that nearly 66 percent of people who use personal music devices are listening to them at 85 decibels (dB) or more which can cause permanent hearing damage over time.”

It is important to consider the risks of noise-induced hearing loss in younger generations as seen by the momentous shift in the demography of hearing aid wearers. Hearing aids are no longer just for grandparents. The National Institute on Deafness has recorded an increase in hearing aid use in younger age categories. In fact, the data revealed that hearing loss is more prevalent in men aged between 20 and 39, with 32 percent of those men suffering from some form of noise-induced hearing loss, compared to 20 percent for women. The number of people affected now could well be just the beginning as ear damage grows gradually over time. Therefore, the repercussions of technology since the existence of iPods in 2001 are still to be determined.
More than 90 percent of young people listen to a personal music player, many with the sound turned up to maximum volume. According to research conducted by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health earphones produce sound levels that can exceed 120dB, which is comparable to a plane leaving the runway.  Some food for though:

  • At 90dB only two and a half hours of listening is deemed safe.
  • At 100dB, experts recommend listening for no longer than 15 minutes.

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