Young ‘earphone generation’ warned of risks of deafness
EXPERTS warn a generation is at risk of going deaf because people aged under 30 listen to too much music on their smartphones and earphones.
Lead paediatric audiologist at Central Middlesex Hospital Rosbin Syed said the music pumped into ears can be the same decibel level as a jumbo jet taking off.
She said: “The hearing loss we’re treating today would have been seen in the over-50s 10 or 20 years ago. It’s tragic because by the time people see us, the damage is done.” According to NHS England, 16% of the population suffers from significant hearing loss. Charity Action on Hearing Loss estimates there will be a 40% rise in problems by 2035. It advises using earplugs at gigs and noise cancelling headphones. Rosbin urged regulation to “make sure headphones are an acceptable standard”.