New Delhi: At a time when the TWS headphone segment is experiencing exponential growth, more than 1 billion teenagers and young adults are potentially at risk of hearing loss due to the use of headphones and earplugs and visits to loud music venues, according to new research.
“There is an urgent need for governments, industry and civil society to prioritize the global prevention of hearing loss by promoting safe listening practices,” the researchers said.
India’s TWS shipments witnessed a strong second quarter (Q2) with 168% year-on-year growth and 62% quarter-on-quarter growth, according to Counterpoint Research’s IoT Service report. This is due to increased penetration of the low price range (Rs 1,000 to 2,000), multiple discount offers and growing popularity due to convenience of use.
According to research published in the journal BMJ Global Health, young people are particularly vulnerable due to the use of personal listening devices (PLDs) such as smartphones, headphones and ear buds, as well as visiting places with loud music and poor legal regulations . enforcement.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 430 million people worldwide suffer from hearing loss.
According to previously published research, PLD users often choose volumes up to 105 dB, while average sound levels in entertainment devices range from 104 to 112 dB, exceeding the permitted levels (80 dB for adults; 75 dB for children), albeit only for short periods of time sections. In a pooled analysis of the data, using PLDs and attending noisy entertainment venues are associated with unsafe listening practices among teenagers and young adults worldwide – 24 percent and 48 percent, respectively, according to the research.
Based on these numbers, the researchers calculated that there are 0.67 to 1.35 billion adolescents and young adults worldwide who may be at risk of hearing loss. However, the researchers acknowledge that their findings have significant limitations, such as the varied study design – a particular feature of studies of entertainment venues – and the absence of a standardized methodology.
