Hearing Loss Among a Younger Generation

When you're young, losing your hearing isn't one ofthinks they might be experiencing hearing loss at a
your top concerns. Young people are developingyoung age. These include experiencing a ringing or
hearing problems.buzzing sound inside the ears (especially after a loud
While hearing loss is most often attributed to heredityconcert,) pain inside the ears or even an increased
or aging, things like concerts and listening to music onsensitivity to noise. Experiencing any of these warning
headsets at loud settings can often be the cause ofsigns should be a trigger to visit a doctor and request
hearing loss in a younger person. The youngera hearing test.
generation tends to turn things up louder just for theWhat Can I Do to Protect My Hearing?Young people
fun of it, not because they are hard of hearing.should take action if they suspect they may be losing
Living in a big city and being constantly exposed totheir hearing by having a comprehensive hearing test
excessive traffic noise—at a close distance—canas soon as possible. Not only will it help diagnose the
also be a source of gradual hearing loss. According toproblem, but it will be a good reference point for future
a recent study performed by the Society to Aid thetests.
Hearing Impaired and published in the Times of India,If a doctor recommends a hearing aid, there's no
roughly 74 percent of traffic patrol officers incause for alarm. Hearing aids have evolved
Hyderabad, India, are suffering from hearing loss.dramatically over the years and new technology has
Although this loss of hearing is a result of working longallowed them to be small and nearly unrecognizable to
hours at an extremely close range to the major noiseanother person.
levels of a city, it's important to keep in mind theYoung adults can start taking proactive measures to
external factors that may surround a young person inavoid hearing loss, such as listening to music at a lower
their own life.volume, or wearing ear plugs to concerts or other loud
What are Some Warning Signs?"This age group mayvenues. They may think their hearing problem can be
notice a temporary hearing threshold shift or tinnitussolved with a quick turn of the volume, but if they don't
(ringing in the ears) after attending a loud concert ortake care of it now, it could affect them more
turning their MP3s up too loud," .severely in the future.
There are warning signs to look out for if someone