Loud Music Can Make An Entire Generation Grow Deaf Before Their Time

Why are more and more teenagers suffering from hearing problems? It's because they keep on listening to loud music through their headsets and earphones. An entire generation of young people is growing up almost deaf even before they reach their 30s because of this.

According to a study by scientists at McMaster University, Ontario, a growing number of teenagers are already suffering from chronic persistent tinnitus. Tinnitus (pronounced ti-ni-tis), is a ringing in the ears. A tinnitus sufferer hears various sounds such as buzzing, hissing, chirping, and whistling even when there is actually silence. The noise can go on for stretches of time, or come intermittently. A person with tinnitus can sometimes find it hard to fall asleep because the sound persists and is even louder at night when there are no other sounds present.

Dr. Larry Roberts of McMaster's Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior in Canada said in a paper which came out in The Journal Scientific Reports that "risky listening habits" are to blame for tinnitus among teenagers. As part of his research, he monitored the hearing of 170 students and over one-fourth of the number was found to be already experiencing tinnitus. These students admit to listening to music on their mobile phones, as well as going to parties where loud music was playing.

Roberts explained that tinnitus is a sign that if one continuous to play loud music, they will eventually damage their hearing seriously. Hearing loss becomes quite possible, and when this is severe, the damage cannot be reversed. There is no other sure way to prevent tinnitus or hearing loss but through prevention. Teenagers are advised to keep their sound levels at 60 per cent, and listen to music on their earphones or headsets a maximum of 60 minutes per day.

According to the National Institute of Health, repeated exposure to sound levels over 85 decibels can lead to hearing loss. Permanent damage can occur in minutes.