Wearing Earphones at High Volume for Hours Every Day
A 2019 study published in The Lancet estimated that over 1 billion young people worldwide are at risk of noise-induced hearing loss, with prolonged earphone use identified as a primary driver. In India, where cheap earphones ship with every smartphone and metro commutes stretch to 90 minutes each way, the exposure is relentless. The inner ear contains around 15,000 hair cells that convert sound vibrations into electrical signals. These cells do not regenerate. At 85 decibels, roughly the volume of heavy traffic, sustained exposure begins causing measurable damage. Most earphone users in their twenties listen between 90 and 100 decibels without realising it. The rule audiologists use is simple: if someone sitting next to you can hear what's playing through your earphones, the volume is already in the damage zone.
