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Many listen to music, at excessively high volumes and for a long time.
At least 1.100 billion people are at risk of losing or having their hearing diminished due to the inappropriate use of headphones, according to data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on World Hearing Day.
“At least 1.100 billion people are at risk of hearing loss due to the way they listen to music, at excessively high volumes and for a long time,” declared WHO ear and ear care expert Shelly Chadha. .
One of the recommendations is to use, as much as possible, headphones that have the outside noise cancellation option because there are studies that show that people who use them do not turn up the volume as much when there are background sounds.
“Many people don't know this is a risk or don't care,” Chadha lamented.
WHO is currently working with the International Telecommunication Union to develop alert messages on mobile phones that appear when a volume level that can damage hearing is exceeded.
There are currently 1.500 billion people with serious hearing problems, including total deafness, and according to WHO projections this number could rise to 2.500 billion in 2050.
Today, almost a third of people suffering from this problem need hearing rehabilitation services, but the WHO estimates that only 17% of them can access them.
“This is a giant gap and it must change,” Chadha said.
The WHO reported that improving this gap over a period of 10 years can benefit more than 1.400 billion people and have a considerable economic return, calculating that for every dollar invested, 16 are recovered in health care that no longer needs to be provided. or in productivity that is preserved.
Chadha explained that untreated hearing loss costs the global economy almost a trillion dollars each year, a cost that is increasing as the number of people with the problem increases.
The WHO also pointed out other reasons why hearing loss is increasing, including infections such as meningitis or rubella; or loud noises at work.
These factors can be prevented with public health strategies, which would prevent up to 60% of cases among children.
Due to the pandemic, 74% of 192 WHO Member States reported partial or complete interruption of hearing rehabilitation services.
Furthermore, this health emergency has had a serious impact on people with hearing problems, who experience much greater social isolation and problems due to the use of masks, which make it more difficult for them to hear others or read lips.
"Improving this situation will not only benefit people who have hearing loss, but will bring benefits to society as a whole," Chadha concluded.
