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Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Risk Of Permanent Hearing Loss With Audio Devices Set At Unsafe High Volumes

The World Health Organization has recently released alarming
statistics which have brought to light the troubling fact of how many
individuals are at the risk of suffering from hearing loss, simply because of
“unsafe recreational noises”. The news was released to the press, as a move to
share the shocking statistical result that was discovered by the
organization.

WHO Statistics – A Troubling Announcement

Around 1.1 billion people are at a risk of suffering from
hearing impairments or hearing loss, due to the use of different audio devices
at dangerously high levels. (World Health
Organization WHO, 2015)

The report states that 1.1 billion of the population; which
is at a risk of suffering from severe hearing loss, consists mainly of young
adults and teenagers. The use of personal audio devices along with other noisy
recreational activities at entertainment venues like bars, night clubs, and
different sporting events, has been estimated to have a profound impact on the
hearing abilities of youngsters, which might even lead to a permanent hearing
loss in some. (World Health Organization WHO,
2015)

Personal Audio Devices – Fun At The Risk Of Permanent Hearing Loss

Personal audio devices are small hardware items which enable
teenagers and young adults to listen to music and videos anywhere they want.
Smart phones, cell phones, MP3 players, portable audio DVD players and iPods,
are majorly used by the youth to listen to their favorite music and enjoy
videos at dangerously high sound levels.

However, exposure to dangerously high levels of noisy
entertainment is now being considered as a major reason for possible permanent
hearing loss in a major section of the world population.

Age Groups At A Risk Of Hearing Loss

Research studies conducted at different high and middle
income countries, presented results, which highlighted a specific age group,
which was at a higher risk of suffering from permanent hearing loss.

The teenagers and young adults from these countries, who
belonged to the age bracket of 12 to 30 years, were noted to be at a high risk.
The high sound levels in audio devices are being seen as the primary reason for
the high risk. 50% of the young target bracket is exposed to dangerously high
sounds, while around 40% are exposed to sound levels which can be potentially
damaging.

The sound levels which have be

en attributed to be unsafe for
hearing are the ones which exceed 85 decibels for a time period of 8 hours or
of 100 decibels for just 15 minutes. (World
Health Organization WHO, 2015)

Global Region Statistics

The hearing loss is distributed on a global scale, with
South Asia heading the count with 27% of the total world cases. Meanwhile, East
Asia has a reported share of 22%, while Asia Pacific has 10% and Latin America
and the Caribbean having 9% reported disabled hearing loss cases in the world. (World Health Organization WHO, 2012). Along
with a number of other reasons, exposure to noisy sounds is a contributive
factor to these global statistics.

The reason for this high count in middle and high income
countries is attributed to the dangerous use of audio devices and constant
exposure to harsh sounds in the surroundings.

Reasons For Increase Of Risk

The high sound levels which exceed the safety limits as
defined by audiologists, doctors and WHO and other welfare organizations, are a
major reason for the increased risk of permanent hearing loss in teenagers and
young adults.

Unsafe headphones and earplugs which do not offer complete
protection from the dangerously high sound frequencies are another risk factor.
Low volumes on audio devices, and the use of proper earplugs, which reduce or
cancel out the sounds from noisy surroundings, are ways to minimize the risk of
permanent hearing loss in the youth of today.

Limiting the time spent in noisy surroundings engaged in
different noisy activities, and reducing the time spent listening to personal
audio devices to one hour a day, can also further help to reduce the risk of
hearing loss in young adults and teenagers.

This article is written by: Dr. Lori Trentacoste, head audiologist at Island Better Hearing (www.islandbetterhearing.com) All images and content in this article are the sole property of the LIAHP and Dr. Trentacoste (c) 2015, All rights reserved whereby use of this article and/or other written projects in this blogsite must be done with express permission from Dr. Lori Trentacoste.

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About Me

Lori graduated with a Master’s degree from the University of Buffalo in 1986. Lori graduated with her Doctorate in Audiology in 2010 from the Arizona School of Health Sciences. Lori is Board Certified in Audiology (ABA) and has been a part of Island Better Hearing since her dad, Bob Trentacoste, began the Practice back in 1972. Island Better Hearing is one of the oldest family owned and operated audiology and hearing aid dispensing practice in the tri-state area.
Lori has been actively involved in many professional organizations locally and nationally such as the ADA, ASHA, LISHA, ABA, etc. Lori works with other local agencies which includes the County Early Intervention program and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. She is on the Board of Directors for the Hearing Care Group, a local agency of Audiologists/Practice Owners who work to increase consumer awareness to Hearing loss and current trends in hearing aid technology.