[Hearing loss due to leisure time noise is on the rise. The ear also needs a rest period].

Noise during leisure time is increasingly leading to temporary and permanent hearing loss, with most victims being adolescents and young adults. Particularly harmful is permanent exposure to noise, since the highly sensitive ear is not designed to tolerate it. On average, youngsters aged between 14 and 20 years spend 3 hours and more listening to music. In discos, concerts in particular, as well as listening to music via headphones, sound levels of 100 dB are regularly reached and exceeded, and levels of 90 dB are already considered to represent a definite risk. Noise is, however, experienced as offensive and painful at levels of about 120-140 dB, and this leads to the danger of its harmful effects being underestimated. Treatment of hearing loss depends on whether it is acute or chronic and comprises infusion therapy, stress reduction, acoustic rest or interposed periods free of noise and, where indicated the fitting of a suitable hearing aid. In view of the immense significance of hearing impairment for the economy, public health, and society at large, its prevention--not only by protective, but also preventive, measures--warrants greater attention.