5 ms·
Sounds like there’s a hearing problem epidemic around the world. What’s causing this?
by 1-6 4y ago
Sounds like there’s a hearing problem epidemic around the world. What’s causing this?
- ceejayoz 4y agoI'd wager an aging population and the advent of portable music players like the Walkman.
- bastawhiz 4y agoIt doesn't feel like it's gotten worse to me. It feels like there's a lot more effort to diagnose kids with hearing trouble and to make hearing aids less stigmatized. More discreet devices make them a compelling option for folks who are self conscious. But it is the case that headphones _have_ been damaging hearing for a long time. The rise of MP3 players that could blast audio was a known cause of hearing loss even as it occurred.
- isubkhankulov 4y agoConcerts, headphones, combat, industrial machinery. You name it. Hearing loss is cumulative and the statistics are mind boggling. ~20% of people in their 20’s have hearing loss.
- mikaraento 4y agoWould you have a pointer to the 20% number? I'm genuinely interested in learning more.
- mikaraento 4y agoIIRC the overall prevalence of hearing loss is has not been changing that much. There are a couple of opposing forces at the population level. Most common hearing loss is age-related and the population is getting older. Two other common causes are exposure to loud noises at work and infections. Work-related exposure is decreasing as fewer people work in heavy industry and hearing protection has become almost universal. Infections have also decreased with better hygiene and health care. I don't know of evidence that loud music is actually causing hearing loss in young people.
- missedthecue 4y agoAt this point, there have been at least a few consecutive generations that have listened to music too loudly