HEARING loss is an increasing public health concern affecting Malaysians of all ages, including younger adults.
Sri Kota Specialist Medical Centre Consultant Otorhinolaryngologist Dr Johnson Ng Wei Siang said prolonged exposure to noise from personal audio devices, concerts, gaming and other daily activities is putting hearing health at greater risk.
“According to the Health Ministry, one in five Malaysians is affected by hearing loss, showing that hearing health deserves the same attention we give to our heart health, eye health and mental wellbeing.
“Hearing loss is no longer just associated with ageing, as it is increasingly recognised as a public health concern affecting people of all ages, including younger adults.
“This is partly due to changes in our lifestyles, with more people using personal audio devices, attending concerts and fitness classes, gaming and taking part in other activities where noise exposure has become part of everyday life,” he told Sinar Daily.
Dr Johnson highlighted that noise exposure had become almost continuous compared with the past, when loud sounds were more commonly associated with certain occupations or occasional events.
He said repeated exposure to loud sounds could permanently damage the tiny sensory hair cells in the inner ear, which do not regenerate once damaged, making noise-induced hearing loss permanent.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that more than one billion young people aged between 12 and 35 worldwide are at risk of permanent hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices, including prolonged exposure to loud music through personal audio devices and recreational settings.
Hearing loss is therefore increasingly becoming a lifestyle issue shaped by the way people live, work and enjoy entertainment.
“I believe the biggest difference today is that noise exposure has become almost continuous. In the past, loud noise was often associated with certain occupations, such as construction or manufacturing or occasional events such as concerts.
“Today, technology has made sound a constant companion throughout our daily lives. Many of us listen to music or podcasts during our commute, wear earbuds for virtual meetings, switch to gaming or streaming after work, exercise to loud music at the gym and attend concerts or sporting events on weekends.
“Individually, these activities may not seem harmful, but together they create cumulative noise exposure that can gradually damage our hearing,” he said.
Dr Johnson explained that hearing damage was influenced by both sound volume and the duration of exposure, with prolonged exposure to moderately loud sounds also posing a risk.
He said it was a common misconception that only extremely loud sounds could harm hearing, as moderately loud sounds could become damaging when people were exposed to them for extended periods without allowing their ears sufficient time to recover.
According to WHO, sounds above 85 decibels could become harmful with prolonged exposure, while sounds of around 100 decibels, commonly experienced at concerts, music festivals and some fitness classes, could potentially damage hearing in as little as 15 minutes without adequate protection.
He advised people to avoid listening at maximum volume for extended periods and recommended using well-fitted or noise-cancelling earbuds to reduce the need to increase volume in noisy environments.
He also urged users to take regular breaks from earbuds and keep them clean, while stressing that noise-cancelling devices should not be treated as permission to listen at high volumes.
“Noise-cancelling earbuds can support safer listening, but they should be treated as a tool rather than a licence to listen at high volumes for prolonged periods. We should still maintain a comfortable volume and take regular breaks.
“I also recommend the 60/60 rule as a practical habit for safer listening, although it is not a strict medical guideline. This means keeping the volume at no more than 60 per cent of the device's maximum and limiting continuous listening to around 60 minutes before taking a short break.
“Hearing is something we rely on every day, yet many people only think about it after they begin to lose it. We should not wait until hearing problems affect our work, relationships or daily life before seeking help.
“An early hearing assessment can provide reassurance if everything is normal or allow treatment before the condition progresses,” he said.