Protecting the Hearing Health of Young People in the Americas

Abstract

The main risk factors that are correlated to hearing loss are those related to the behavior of the adolescents; including listening to loud music and using lawn and power tools with no hearing protection. This techincal brief aims to inform and contribute to the call from the World Health Organization (WHO) to bring together health authorities and policy-makers in the need to prevent hearing loss due to sustained exposure to excess noise levels, by developing and promoting standards for safe listening at all life stages. Addressing the rising prevalence of hearing loss throughout the life course is crucial and especially relevant to young people today. A recommended tool developed by WHO for young people to assess and monitor their hearing is the hearWHO application, based on validated digits-in-noise technology.