World Hearing Day: Doctors urge prevention in fighting hearing loss

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March 3 marks World Hearing Day. This year's theme is "Check your hearing!" Many experts and health organizations, including those who focus on the hearing-impaired, are working to raise awareness and help avoid hearing loss.

When we talk about music, what kind of feelings does it evoke? Bliss… and relaxation. These are some of the feelings a good song can easily conjure. But what if the music lasts for hours?

We interviewed a group of musicians based in Beijing during the weekend. Yan Xuefeng and Zong Chengwei said that hours of exposure to loud music can cause discomfort.

For people like musicians who are exposed to acoustic sources constantly and for a long time might have their hearing affected. /CGTN Photo

Yan said that he works for over 10 hours a day and use headphones and stereo systems for six to seven hours. He admits that he has to rest occasionally, or else his ears wouldn't be able to take it.

Zong added that besides them, band members like to play at maximum volume. The live music is captivating, but it's easy to forget the harm that loud music can cause.

It's common for musicians to experience some degree of hearing loss caused by excessive use of headphones or other sound equipment. It's also not rare for daily users.

Whether for fashion or convenience, listening to loud music on audio devices have become a part of modern life. But according to the WHO, the practice has put more than a billion people around the world, aged 12-35, at risk of losing their hearing.

Many know the dangers. But for some, it remains a habit.

Many people could have congenital or acquired hearing loss, so they need to pay great attention to protecting their hearing. /CGTN Photo

We also interviewed some headphone users in the street, and most of them said that they are not heavy users but admit they use headphones for hours on the subway and in the office or home.

It's easy for these people to gradually increase the volume unconsciously, especially in a noisy environment. Oftentimes, headphone users fail to realize they're listening to audio at unsafe levels until serious hearing problems suddenly occur.

At the Chinese PLA General Hospital in Beijing, the waiting area outside the otorhinolaryngological department is always crowded.

A 20-year-old man said that he works long hours with noise, sometimes with headphones. This has given him tinnitus.

"I could not hear others clearly and could not sleep well at night because of the tinnitus," he said.

A hearing-impaired elderly woman said that when she was younger, she didn't have the sense to protect her hearing.

Now she regretted that she always took it for granted that it would be just fine to use noisy sound equipment.

There are many reasons to hearing loss, including infections, loud acoustic sources, drug abuse, and diseases. Experts suggest frequent medical checks and prevention measures. /CGTN Photo

Whether congenital or acquired, loss of hearing is usually irreversible. That's why doctors say it's an issue that deserves our utmost attention.

"In our daily life, the volume of electric equipment like television and headphones should be turned down. And noise from concerts, firecrackers and vehicles has to be limited. Once the hearing loss occurs, it's already too late," said Yang Shiming, chief otolaryngologist of the Chinese PLA General Hospital.

Noise is not the only cause of acquired hearing loss. Doctor Yang says infections, drug abuse, and diseases can all play a role as well. That's why prevention is paramount.

"Early prevention, early identification and early intervention. If everyone could do these things, hearing loss and its harm could be kept to a minimum," Yang said.

Of course, this applies to every one of us. And like many things in life, moderation is key to making the world's sounds all the more beautiful.