Research
Research overview
Quite a lot is known about how noise affects hearing: physiologists, doctors and international organisations gather this data. Here we explain where such information comes from, what its limits are and how to tell serious news from advertising.
The science of hearing speaks in a calm voice. Loud headlines tend to appear where something is being sold.
Where hearing data comes from
| Source | What it is | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Physiology of hearing | A description of how the ear turns sound into a nerve signal | Explains how hearing works, but does not tell an individual what to do |
| Studies of groups of people | Comparing hearing in people with different habits and working conditions | Show a link, but many other factors affect the result |
| WHO estimates | Summary data on how widespread risks are around the world | Give an overall picture, not a forecast for an individual |
| WHO–ITU standard (2019) | Safe listening reference points for devices and users | A reference point, not an exact limit; everyone's sensitivity is different |
| Clinical observations | The experience of doctors who test hearing and help patients | Based on specific patients and requires an examination |
How to read news about a “miracle cure for hearing”
Who wrote it?
Check whether the text is signed and whether the author has medical training. An anonymous text with a “buy” button is not science news.
What exactly was studied?
Experiments on cells or animals are not yet proof of benefit for people. Look for whether the text mentions studies involving people.
Where is the source?
Serious news says where its data comes from. If there is no link, or it leads to a shop, that is a reason for doubt.
What is promised?
Promises to “restore your hearing in a week” or “without doctors” should make you wary. Human hair cells do not recover, and this is well known.
Is something being sold?
If the article ends with an offer to buy drops, supplements or a device, you are looking at an advert, not a research overview.
What would a doctor say?
Before changing anything, discuss the news with an ENT doctor. They can help you understand whether it applies to your situation.
Hearing myths
- “If your ears don't hurt, the volume is safe” — noise damage to hearing usually happens without pain
- “Hearing only gets worse with age” — loud sound harms hearing at any age, including in teenagers
- “Ears get used to noise” — the feeling of getting used to it often means your hearing has already declined slightly
- “Ears need regular cleaning inside with cotton buds” — the ear cleans itself, and deep cleaning can cause harm
- “Ringing after a concert always goes away without a trace” — repeated overload adds up
- “You can't notice hearing loss yourself” — often asking people to repeat themselves and a loud TV can be the first signs
Read next
- Methods
How hearing is tested, how it is protected and how specialists help people with reduced hearing.
- Sources
The materials this guide relies on, how we choose them and where the limits of the guide lie.
- Checking claims (in Russian)
Note at an archived address: how to check information about Eastern and traditional practices.
- Glossary
Hearing words in plain language: from the eardrum and the decibel to audiometry.
Sources
- WHO — materials on safe listening and World Hearing Day
- WHO and ITU — Safe listening devices and systems standard (2019)
- Textbooks on the physiology of hearing
This guide summarises generally accepted information about hearing as of the date it was prepared. Recommendations from international organisations are updated from time to time, and decisions about your own hearing are made together with a doctor after an examination.