The hidden hearing risk for India's younger generation: Are we listening too loud?

Indian youth are being continuously exposed to loud noises by way of using earphones and headphones, attending concerts and playing games in a noisy environment. Although modern music and entertainment have become a daily routine for most Indians, continuous exposure to loud noises can result in gradual hearing impairment without having any symptoms from the beginning.

"The increasing popularity of personal listening devices makes hearing problems the key issue for teenagers and young adults. However, most people do not know that listening volume, time, and frequency also affect their chances of hearing impairment. Using the 60/60 rule, making pauses between listening sessions, using noise-cancelling headphones and refraining from very loud environments can prevent such cases," says Dr Bhanu Mishra, Consultant- Nephrology, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh.

Dr Bhanu says, "Awareness of the dangers of unsafe listening habits should be raised to preserve the future generation from hearing impairment. The problem does not consist in what you are listening to, but in how loudly you listen."

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"Over the last few years, we have observed a worrying pattern among young patients walking into our clinics - teenagers and even children complaining of ringing ears, muffled hearing after concerts, or difficulty following conversations in noisy settings. This was uncommon a decade ago. Today, it is becoming routine.

The reason is not mysterious. People use earphones for hours at a stretch, often at volumes well above safe limits, whether for online classes, gaming, or music. Unlike sudden hearing loss, this damage creeps in quietly. By the time symptoms are noticed, some harm may already be irreversible," says Anup Anand, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Centre for Hearing, Anand Hearing Care Pvt Ltd.

What concerns audiologists and ENT doctors most is the casual attitude around this issue. Hearing health is rarely discussed in schools or homes the way eye care or dental care is. Parents monitor screen time but seldom volume levels.

Anup Anand concludes, "We need simple, consistent habits - the 60/60 rule (how does the common man know the 60/60 rule?), regular breaks, and periodic hearing check-ups. Protecting hearing should not require a crisis to become a priority."