In 2010, the average youth, between the ages of 15 and 24, listened to recorded sounds for one hour a day. Last year, that figure was up to just over two and a half hours, according to the survey Mediebarometern 2022 from Nordicom and from the University of Gothenburg.
Our changing listening habits may lead to hearing loss on a societal level, researchers warn.
– There is absolutely a risk to that, says Pernilla Videhult Pierre, who is a hearing researcher at Karolinska Institutet.
“Will hear worse”
The relationship between high sound volume and hearing loss is well known, but the state of knowledge is still thin about how lifelong exposure to lower volumes affects hearing. However, studies have shown a link between extensive use of headphones and hearing loss.
– Since it has not been going on for several decades, it is difficult to know how serious this is. But there is great concern that the future generation will hear worse than the current older generation.
Sweden is far ahead in all digital consumption patterns. Podcast listening took off with “Filip & Fredrik’s podcast” in 2010 and has increased explosively since then, albeit from low levels.
What primarily drives the increased exposure time to audio media among young people is the combination of mobile phones and music streaming services, says Jonas Ohlsson, media researcher and director at Nordicom.
– The possibility of getting all the world’s music for just over a hundred bucks is a hugely advantageous offer for a music consumer, compared to when you had to buy records from all the artists you were interested in.
Rapid development
Development has been rapid, and listening habits vary greatly between different age groups. An average retiree in 2022 listened to recorded audio for half an hour, compared to two and a half hours for a youth.
Hearing researcher Pernilla Videhult Pierre points out that any hearing damage will probably only be noticed when the young and most dedicated headphone users reach middle age.
She emphasizes the importance of “resting your hearing” and expresses concern when she sees people constantly wearing headphones.
– You shouldn’t listen all the time. It is based on the fact that it is uncertain how much one can tolerate, she says.
Affects mood
Impaired hearing not only affects the ability to perceive the environment, but also has other negative consequences.
– It affects people’s well-being very much. Among other things, there is an increase in sickness absence among those with hearing loss.
On the whole, Pernilla Videhult Pierre is worried that more people will be affected and that the damage will be felt earlier. But there is one thing that slows down the development.
– Somewhere the hours of the day set a limit, says media researcher Jonas Ohlsson.
Impaired hearing and mental illness are linked
Hearing affects the whole life and hearing loss can lead to a lower quality of life with feelings of being limited and isolated in social life. Low mood and depression may also occur.
In addition, it can be experienced as exhausting trying to follow along in social contexts.
It is well known that hearing loss is linked to an increased risk of dementia. An article in the medical journal “The Lancet” from 2020 claims that early detection and treatment of hearing problems is the most effective measure to prevent dementia.
Why hearing loss increases the risk of dementia is not fully understood, but one theory is that the brain is activated less when it receives fewer sensory impressions, which has a negative impact.
Source: Karolinska Institutet/TT