While we can never live our lives without sound, extreme noise can be very damaging, and you are more likely a part of the statistic.
According to a new report of World Health Organization (WHO), no less than a billion young people from 12 to 35 years old run the risk of suffering from hearing loss due to excessive noise brought by loud music.
One of the major culprits is the headphone, although the music in night clubs and concert can also be blamed. The risk is more prominent for those who are living in countries with middle to high income. Those who work in noisy places, meanwhile, are at much greater risk.
To have some point of reference, extreme noise happens when a person is exposed to over 85 decibels of sound for around 8 hours, which usually happens when you spend a long time in a concert or a night club. This level of noise is already comparable to that of traffic. Some are exposed to 100 decibels for quarter an hour every day. Hearing noise at 120 decibels for a few seconds can already lead to a serious hearing damage.
Although the WHO acknowledges that people especially the young ones can't get away with music, it's not enough reason to put their hearing to a very serious risk. They'd like to stress that once a person loses his hearing, the chances of getting it back remains elusive for now. The only way to restore it is by using a hearing aid, and even then, not everyone can take advantage of it.
In line with the International Ear Care Day, which WHO is going to celebrate on March 3, they shared some strong recommendations. First, those who are into headphones should limit the use to no more than an hour each day and reduce the volume of sound. If the intention is to simply mask the noise, ear plugs can already help.
They are also urging the government to step in by drafting policies that can limit the level of noise in crowded and public places.
