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A recent has estimated that over one billion people worldwide aged 12-34 years could be at risk of noise-induced hearing loss. The systematic review and meta-analysis found that 24% of young people engage in unsafe listening practices when using a personal listening device (such as headphones), while an estimated 48% do so at least once a month by attending noisy events (such as concerts or clubs).

In this study, 鈥渦nsafe listening鈥� relates to not only how loud the noise is, but for how long a person is exposed. A person鈥檚 maximum recommended noise exposure dose is no more than 85 dB (decibels) for eight hours a day. This is roughly as loud as city traffic or a busy restaurant.

For every three decibel increase in noise, this equates to a doubling in sound energy 鈥� meaning that the exposure time should be halved (known as the 鈥溾��). So if the sound in a typical concert is around 105 dB, a person would exceed their daily noise dose within approximately five minutes of being there. Headphones and earphones can reach similar levels when put up to maximum volume.

Frequently engaging in unsafe listening practices can lead to permanent hearing loss. Fortunately, there are many easy things you can do to lower this risk.

Knowing your risk

It鈥檚 important to note this study only estimates the number of young people who could be at risk of hearing loss 鈥� it does not report on how many people have already developed hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices. The authors acknowledge that more well-designed studies are needed to better understand the effects of recreational noise exposure across the lifespan.

However, we do know from studies on other types of noise just how harmful it can be to hearing. For example, studies investigating the effects of (such as from loud construction machinery) have shown that it鈥檚 linked with high levels of hearing loss and tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing sensation in the ears). In such jobs, average daily noise exposures can exceed 100 dB. Similar problems have also been found in the music industry, with approximately .

In theory, the delicate parts of the inner ear are equally as susceptible to damage from loud music as they are from noisy machinery and power tools. Regular exposure to high levels of noise can destroy the sensory hair cells in the ear that are responsible for amplifying everyday sounds. , meaning that noise-induced hearing loss is permanent.

Early symptoms of hearing damage can include muffled hearing (like having wool in your ears) and tinnitus 鈥� both of which can be common after exposure to loud noise. But even though these symptoms may disappear within a couple of hours or days, it has been suggested that these symptoms could still be of more insidious damage to parts of the inner ear.

While these early signs of hearing loss might be nothing more than a minor annoyance when you鈥檙e young, as hearing loss worsens it can have a major impact on quality of life. Some studies have even shown it鈥檚 associated with later in life. This is why it鈥檚 vital to look after your hearing even when you鈥檙e young.

Protecting your hearing

The first and most effective way to reduce the risk of hearing loss is to eliminate the noise at its source. In other words, turn the volume down. This is easy to do with personal listening devices, since many smartphones are already wired to alert you when you鈥檝e been listening for too long at a high volume.

But turning the volume down can be harder to do when attending loud events. To protect yourself, limit your exposure 鈥� either by moving away from the sound source (avoid standing in front of loudspeakers) or in a quiet space every 15 minutes or so. It鈥檚 also recommended you give your ears if you spend around two hours in a 100 dB environment, such as a club or concert.

You could also use hearing protection devices (such as earplugs) at noisy events. These are usually considered as a last line of defence, but may be the best option if you are unable to limit your exposure 鈥� or don鈥檛 want to.

Disposable foam earplugs will help to prevent noise-induced hearing loss if . But they aren鈥檛 really designed for listening to music and can make music sound muffled, which puts many people off using them. Musicians鈥� earplugs are a better solution, as these are designed to evenly balance noise reduction across all frequencies, which preserves the quality of the music.

Even if you follow these measures to protect your hearing, it鈥檚 still advisable to get your hearing checked by an audiologist. While there鈥檚 no rule on how regularly you should get your hearing checked when you鈥檙e young, some audiologists recommend having at least to serve as a baseline, and then to get retested approximately every five years to monitor any changes.

But if you鈥檙e regularly exposed to noise or already have some hearing loss, it鈥檚 advised you get your hearing checked more frequently. You should also if you notice any sudden changes in your hearing.

, Research Associate, Hearing Science,

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