Make Listening Safe

KEY FACTS

1.1 billion young Over 43 million people worldwide are at risk of loss due to unsafe people 12–35 years live listening practices with disabling

MAKE LISTENING SAFE Among young people 12–35 years in middle- and high-incomeMake Listening countries: Safe

listen to unsafe levels of are exposed toInternational potentially Ear Care Day 2015 damagingwww.who.int/pbd/deafness/activities/MLS Nearly through personal audio devices (MP3 Around levels of sound at nightclubs, bars 50% players, smartphones, and others) 40% and sporting events

PREVENTION ACTION Individuals can:

hr min sec

Keep the volume Limit time spent Heed the warning Monitor safe Get regular down! engaged in noisy signs of hearing loss! listening levels hearing activities! through use check-ups! ° Determine safe listening level ° Ringing in the ears () of smartphone on personal audio device In noisy venues, take short ° Difficulty hearing high-pitched apps! listening breaks and move ° Wear in noisy , understanding ° away from loud sounds venues; use carefully fitted, speech on telephone, and if possible, noise- ° Limit the daily use of personal following conversations in cancelling ear/ audio devices to <1 hour/day noisy venues

Parents, teachers and Manufacturers can: design personal physicians can: educate young audio devices with safety features, display people about safe listening information about safe listening on products and packaging Managers of entertainment Governments can: develop and enforce venues can: respect safe noise level strict legislation on recreational noise, launch set by venue, use sound limiters, offer public information campaigns earplugs and “chill out” rooms to patrons

Make Listening Safe. Once you lose your hearing, it won’t come back!

Department for Management of NCDs, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention (NVI) World Health Organization 20 Avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland Tel +41-22-791-1466 www.who.int/pbd/deafness/activities/MLS