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According to researchers, young adults tend to listen to music too loudly and this excessive volume can damage their hearing.
Telephones, films, broadcasts… Many everyday objects are sources of noise. However, although they are harmless most of the time, these can seriously damage hearing if the volume is too high. According to a study published Tuesday in the journal BMJ Global Healthyoung people are particularly affected.
Permanent hearing damage
“We’ve estimated that between 0.67 and 1.35 billion people aged 12 to 34 worldwide engage in harmful listening practices.“, and therefore risk more or less significant hearing loss, warned researcher Lauren Dillard of the University of South Carolina, lead author of the study.
Indeed, exposing yourself to too high a sound volume can tire the “cells and sensory structures of the ear”, specified the researcher.
If this harmful listening is regular or continues, these can be permanently damaged and lead to hearing loss or tinnitus (imaginary “interference” noises that are heard in one or both ears).
To better understand the impact of sound on our auditory system, the researchers conducted a meta-analysis of three scientific articles published between 2000 and 2021 that reported on the unsafe listening practices of people aged 12 to 34.
These practices included listening but also frequenting places of entertainment – where the sound volume could reach very high decibel levels – such as concert halls, bars and clubs.
However, while the World Health Organization recommends “a maximum noise exposure limit of 85 dB“In his workplace, the music listened to on smartphones by young people easily reaches 105 decibels, while the rooms can reach 104 to 112 decibels.
Dangerous sound levels, which can cause hearing loss.
Listening to music in old age is more dangerous
“These figures, already relayed in the past by the WHO, prove that exposure to noise is underestimated“, warns Dr. Harichane before adding”The good news is that sound trauma is not necessarily definitive: an appropriate treatment based on corticosteroids generally allows good recovery. On the other hand, exposure to a high volume of noise is much more dangerous from the age of 40-50. Our auditory capital does indeed disappear over time..
To prevent this hearing damage, the ENT advises never to exceed 60 decibels, to wear noise reduction headphones and to consult a doctor as soon as a ringing in the ears or high-pitched noise is heard. This is an alert from the body, “sign of internal cell damage“, says the expert.