There are an increasing number of cases being reported by doctors of young children losing their hearing. Many of these patients are predicted to have the hearing capacity of a 60 year old by the age of 30. However this epidemic is not down to diseases or a virus but the rising exposure to high volumes of noise.

The problem is occurring because many young children listen to their music or play video games with the volume at the maximum level in their earphones. This kind of concentrated noise damages the ears, often beyond repair. Many parents do not realise that by taking their children to sporting or music events they are exposing them to volumes only suitable for more mature ears. Professor of preventive medicine at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Dr Martin, said, “If a sound reaches 85 decibels and over an extended period, it can permanently damage hearing. The safe level for an iPod is 80 per cent on the volume slider. If you listen to music at that level, you can safely listen for 90 minutes a day.”

On average, a conversation would occur at 60 decibels of sound, completely harmless to the ears, a loud concert or busy motorway could create 120dB and a jet engine or pneumatic drill can produce more than 150dB. Most people will find noises above 100dB irritating and prolonged exposure to these levels can cause severe damage. Any exposure to noises above 150dB will cause instantaneous irreversible damage. Noises at a constant low level can cause high blood pressure, stress, anxiety and insomnia.

By standing at arms length from someone with your music on in your earphones, you should still be able to hear them talk, if you can’t, the volume is too loud. Extremely loud noise might not only cause physical damage to your ears, but cause an affliction called Tinnitus. Tinnitus is a terrible condition that causes a permanent loud ringing noise in the ear and can often take over a person’s life. Although some cases are treatable, it usually remains present and victims are forced to suffer an unbearable ringing noise in their ear for the rest of their life.

More than twelve percent of children under 19 years old in America and Europe have some level of hearing loss which is caused exclusively by exposure to loud noise. There are laws preventing loud noise levels in a workplace, but there are no laws about personal exposure.

Treating the rising number of cases of hearing loss is requiring hospitals to create more jobs for nurses and has called for more nursing jobs Warwick.

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