Urgent Alert: Experts Demand Life-Saving Standards for Protecting Youth from Hearing Loss
New Delhi: Over 1 billion young people globally face the risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening habits, prompting experts to urge policymakers to establish global standards for both device manufacturers and users. At the ‘ITU-WTSA 2024’ workshop in New Delhi, Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, emphasized the need for monitoring sound exposure, akin to tracking health parameters like calorie intake. She drew a parallel to the Indian festival ‘Mauni Amavasya’, which celebrates silence, highlighting its therapeutic value. The ITU-WHO workshop addressed the pressing issue of hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices. The WHO initiated the ‘Make Listening Safe’ program in 2015 to prevent hearing loss, which affects communication and quality of life. WHO India Deputy Head, P Payden, noted that childhood noise-induced hearing loss could impact language development and contribute to learning disabilities. Untreated hearing loss can lead to isolation and cognitive decline. The global ITU guidelines for safe listening devices advocate for acoustic symmetry to manage sound exposure. WHO remains dedicated to promoting safe listening through research and collaboration, reinforcing that while hearing loss is irreversible, it is preventable.
Original Story https://www.sentinelassam.com/more-news/national-news/standards-for-safe-listening-must-to-save-young-people-from-hearing-loss-experts
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