Safe Listening
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) / World Health Organization (WHO)
Session 129
Globally, a billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of developing hearing loss due to the practice of listening to music too long and too loud on their personal audio devices. Once hearing loss due to loud sounds sets in, it cannot be reversed. Such hearing loss, if unaddressed, can greatly impact one’s ability to communicate, gain education or find and hold suitable employment. However, hearing loss that results from loud sounds can be prevented by raising awareness about the risks and taking appropriate preventative measures.
To address this issue, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) have developed the “Toolkit for safe listening devices and systems”, which provides the necessary practical guidance for the implementation of the global standard for safe listening devices (ITU-T H.870). The standard outlines key features to regulate the user’s exposure to sound, limit volume and provide information on safe listening.
The implementation of the safe listening features recommended here will be key to protect users from hearing loss caused by loud sounds and ensuring that people can continue enjoying the sounds they like listening to. Governments can act by regulating for the standard and manufacturers can develop and market devices that implement the recommendations of the toolkit. Civil society can advocate for the implementation of the standard and raise awareness on safe listening.
This session will highlight how unsafe listening practices are of global concern, and how a concentrated effort by all stakeholders is necessary to ensure global implementation of the H.870 standard and protect people’s hearing. ITU and WHO call upon Member States, industry partners and civil society to play their part in promoting safe listening and in addressing this emerging health challenge.
Moderator
Dr. Bilel Jamoussi, Chief, Study Groups Department, ITU-T
Speakers/Panellists
- Dr. Shelly Chadha, Medical Officer, WHO
- Mr. Simão De Campos Neto, Counsellor for ITU-T Study Group 16, ITU-T
- Ms. Roxana Widmer-Iliescu, Senior Programme Officer, Digital Inclusion Division and ITU-D Focal Point for ICT Accessibility, ITU-D
- Mr. Masahito Kawamori (Keio Univ., Japan), Rapporteur Q28/16 on e-Health for ITU-T Study Group 16, ITU-T
Session's link to WSIS Action Lines
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C1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
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C4. Capacity building
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C6. Enabling environment
WSIS Action lines C1, C4, and C6.
C1: The widespread implementation of the safe listening standard to protect people’s hearing will require the effective participation of: governments, to regulate for the standard; manufacturers, to develop and market devices that implement the recommendations; and civil society, to advocate for the implementation of the standard and raise awareness on safe listening.
C4: All persons, and especially those most at risk of suffering irreparable hearing loss, need to be aware of the risks associated with unsafe listening practices and be empowered with the knowledge necessary to take preventative action.
C6: In cooperation with relevant stakeholders, governments should foster a supportive and transparent regulatory framework, which provides the appropriate incentives to invest in protecting people’s hearing through safe listening standards, and makes people aware of the risks associated with unsafe listening practices.
Session's link to Sustainable Development Process
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Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all
Sustainable Development Goal 3.
SDG 3: A billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of developing hearing loss because they listen to music too long and too loud. Rising incomes and greater access to technology are increasing the numbers of people at risk. Once hearing loss due to loud sounds sets in, it cannot be reversed: such hearing loss, if unaddressed, can greatly impact one’s ability to communicate, gain education or find and hold suitable employment. The implementation of a standard for safe listening will ensure that devices will prevent users from causing hearing loss.