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Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Community Ear Hearing Volume 16 & Health Issue 20 • 2019 High levels of noise, notably from traffic, are an integral part of city life. GHANA PHOTO: JOZUADOUGLAS/PIXABAY Noise-induced hearing loss 5 Shelly Chadha oud sounds, loud music and noise have become loss. Projections suggest that this number will Technical Officer, WHO an integral part of modern-day society. Seeping continue to rise and could double by 2050, Programme on Ear and L into every aspect of our everyday life, noise is one unless action is taken. While this growth is largely Hearing Care, World of the most important environmental risks to health attributed to ongoing demographic changes, the Health Organization, today.1 In Western Europe alone, over one million Geneva, Switzerland persistence of risk factors such as noise exposure healthy ‘life years’ are lost daily due to environmental contributes to this upward trend. 2 noise. High levels of occupational noise continue to Noise is a challenge in the workplace, with as pose a problem in all regions of the world.3 The rise many as 25–33% of the workforce in Europe being of personal audio devices and smartphones poses an exposed to high-level noise.6 While similar data is additional challenge, because they are often used at loud volumes for long periods.4 not available from some parts of The impact of loud sounds on the world, there is good reason hearing is indisputable. Exposure Exposure to loud to believe that the problem to loud sounds, especially when sounds, especially is widely prevalent especially prolonged and regular, causes in low- and middle-income permanent damage to sensory when prolonged countries where the regulatory cells and other structures within and regular, causes environment is less likely to our ears, resulting in irreversible permanent damage support hearing conservation hearing loss, often accompanied efforts and the informal sector by troublesome tinnitus. Noise remains largely unregulated.7 exposure has also been shown to Non-occupational noise has also emerged as a have an impact on other aspects of health. It has problem, particularly with the current easy access to been associated with cardiovascular diseases (such technology. As the sales of smartphones continues as high blood pressure and ischaemic heart disease, to soar globally (1.5 billion devices sold in 2016 including myocardial infarction), sleep disturbance, alone), the risk of hearing loss to the young listener cognitive impairment (in children) and annoyance. is real. The World Health Organization estimates Cause for concern that 50% of those between 12 and 35 years of age The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates listen to unsafe levels of sound through personal that over 460 million people worldwide currently audio devices (such as smartphones or portable experience moderate or higher levels of hearing Continues overleaf ➤ Community Ear & Hearing Health Volume 16 • Issue 20 (2019) 1 Editorial IN THIS ISSUE music/video players), and approximately 40% are exposed to potentially damaging sound levels 1 Noise-induced in nightclubs, music venue and bars. Overall, hearing loss 1.1 billion young people face the risk of hearing Shelly Chadha loss simply due to their recreational habits.4 4 Effect of noise The omnipresence of noise, its high potential on the ear for damage to hearing and health and the Valerie E Newton permanence of its auditory impact are all reasons and Dolores why this hazard needs to be targeted as a public Umapathy health priority. Addressing it and mitigating its 6 Occupational impact requires a comprehensive effort that is a noise-induced combination of: hearing loss Catalina Valencia- • Policies, legislation and enforcement MIMZY/PIXABAY Wearing hearing protectors can reduce the risk of Mayer and Diego J • Awareness Santana-Hernández noise-induced hearing loss. • Technological advancements. 8 Environmental Creating awareness and recreational It is essential to the prevention of noise-induced noise-induced Policy development and hearing loss hearing loss that people be aware of the risks Suneela Garg and implementation posed by loud sounds and take concrete steps to Palak Goel The implementation of hearing conservation protect themselves from this. Simple steps can go programmes has played a key role in controlling a long way in mitigating risk posed by exposure 11 Challenging ideas occupational noise and many countries have to loud sounds in occupational and recreational about noise and effectively enacted relevant policies bringing hearing settings, such as: 8 Paddy Ricard significant benefits to the affected population. • Using hearing protectors like earplugs However, in many parts of the world, such policies 12 Is it too loud? are either not developed or not well implemented. • Listening to music at lower volumes Legislation is also required to limit exposure to • Limiting time spent in noisy activities environmental noise (e.g. traffic and aircraft noise) and recreational sounds.2 The WHO Environmental • Staying away from sources of noise Noise Guidelines for the European Region • Taking regular listening breaks. provide a strong basis for policy development in the environmental context.1 In all cases, The adoption of such safety measures can only legislation needs to be enforced in order to have occur through heightened awareness and behaviour a positive impact. change. Recently, WHO, in collaboration with the WHO’s Make Listening Safe initiative, launched in International Telecommunications Union (ITU) 2015, aims to raise awareness of recreational noise launched the Global Standard for Safe Listening exposure. It focuses mainly on safe listening through Devices and Systems.9 Developed through a personal audio devices and at entertainment venues. consultative process with participation of key World Hearing Day, celebrated every year on 3rd stakeholders in this field, this Standard provides a March, is another opportunity to organise events to series of evidence-based recommendations to limit raise awareness. noise exposure through these devices. Currently, WHO is also working on formalising a regulatory Technological advancements framework for recreational places in order to It is essential that, as awareness rises among minimise the risk of hearing loss to people who target groups, safe listening and protective This journal is funded by CBM visit this type of venue. options be made available to them. Technology Community Editor Design name, occupation, postal Please contact Joanna Jeremy Ear Hearing Volume 16 Dr Paddy Ricard Lance Bellers address, phone number and (as above). Health Issue 20 • 2019 & email address to: Joanna Editorial committee Printing Correspondence Jeremy, Community Ear and Dr Diego J Santana- Newman Thomson Please send all enquiries to: Hearing Health, International Hernández (Chair) Online edition (free) Joanna Jeremy (for contact High levels of noise, notably from traffic, are an integral Centre for Eye Health, London part of city life. GHANA View and download issues for details, see left). PHOTO: JOZUADOUGLAS/PIXABAY Dr Ian Mackenzie Noise-induced hearing loss free by clicking on the 'CEHH School of Hygiene and 5 Professor Valerie E Newton Shelly Chadha oud sounds, loud music and noise have become loss. Projections suggest that this number will an integral part of modern-day society. Seeping Copyright Technical Officer, WHO continue to rise and could double by 2050, Programme on Ear and L into every aspect of our everyday life, noise is one unless action is taken. While this growth is largely Tropical Medicine, Keppel Hearing Care, World of the most important environmental risks to health attributed to ongoing demographic changes, the Health Organization, 1 Journal' tab on http:// today. In Western Europe alone, over one million Geneva, Switzerland persistence of risk factors such as noise exposure healthy ‘life years’ are lost daily due to environmental contributes to this upward trend. 2 Dr Tony Sirimanna noise. High levels of occupational noise continue to Articles may be photocopied, Noise is a challenge in the workplace, with as pose a problem in all regions of the world.3 The rise Street, London WC1E 7HT, many as 25–33% of the workforce in Europe being of personal audio devices and smartphones poses an exposed to high-level noise.6 While similar data is disabilitycentre.lshtm.ac.uk additional challenge, because they are often used at loud volumes for long periods.4 not available from some parts of The impact of loud sounds on the world, there is good reason Professor Andrew Smith reproduced or translated, hearing is indisputable. Exposure Exposure to loud to believe that the problem United Kingdom. Email: to loud sounds, especially when sounds, especially is widely prevalent especially in low- and middle-income prolonged and regular, causes when prolonged permanent damage to sensory countries where the regulatory How to subscribe cells and other structures within and regular, causes environment is less likely to provided they are not used our ears, resulting in irreversible permanent damage support hearing conservation [email protected] hearing loss, often accompanied efforts and the informal sector 7 Regional consultant by troublesome tinnitus. Noise remains largely unregulated. exposure has also been shown to Non-occupational noise has also emerged as a The paper version of the have an impact on other aspects of health. It has for commercial or personal problem, particularly with the current easy access to been associated with cardiovascular
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