The study, based on the Dutch "Generation R" program, involved a standardized hearing test for 3,347 adolescents aged 13 to 18. The results showed that approximately 6% of young people suffer from hearing loss by age 18 due to damage to nerve cells in the inner ear, while one in eight adolescents is negatively affected by noise. This means that listening to loud music through headphones or attending concerts and nightclubs can lead to serious and irreversible hearing loss.
Scientists believe these problems stem from excessive exposure to noise such as loud music, computer games, and group events. Even mild hearing loss in teenagers can negatively impact academic performance, communication with friends and colleagues, and cause fatigue and feelings of loneliness.
Experts warn that these early hearing injuries increase the risk of hearing loss later in adulthood. Researchers emphasize the importance of preventing these factors, teaching teenagers how to use headphones safely, limiting volume levels, and having regular hearing tests.
