Peoria Standard

Dr. Chris Workman, an audiologist at OSF, acknowledges his fondness for loud music but is acutely aware of the risks it poses to hearing health. This awareness is particularly crucial for younger individuals, as a recent study warns that between 670 million and over 1.3 billion teenagers and young adults could suffer from hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices.

The study identifies two primary sources of loud music exposure: live music events and personal listening devices such as headphones. It highlights that exposure to sound levels of 85 decibels or higher for extended or repeated periods can lead to hearing damage.

Dr. Workman notes, "A lot of us feel invincible at that age, so we tend not to take that message to heart." He hopes young people will recognize the potential harm they might be inflicting on their hearing.

To mitigate these risks, Dr. Workman suggests practical measures like wearing ear protection at concerts and choosing seats further back in the venue when possible. Additionally, he advises using earplugs and lowering the volume on headphones.

For those concerned about potential hearing loss, Dr. Workman recommends scheduling a hearing test.