WHO warns of hearing loss risks from headphone use

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued warnings regarding hearing loss risks among over one billion young people aged 12 to 35 due to unsafe listening practices. The risk of permanent and irreversible damage to the cochlea's sensory cells is determined by the combination of volume intensity, frequency, and duration of exposure.

There is no universal safe number of hours for headphone use, as safety depends on decibel levels. The WHO provides specific guidelines for weekly exposure: at 80 decibels, an adult can safely listen for up to 40 hours per week. However, as intensity increases, safe time limits drop significantly. At 90 decibels, the limit is approximately 4 hours per week, while at 100 decibels, exposure should not exceed 20 minutes.