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Are Younger People Getting Tinnitus?

Children holding bowling balls; younger people getting tinnitus concept

There is some evidence that suggests that tinnitus is becoming more prevalent among younger people. 

Generally, the 15% of the world population with tinnitus is usually between the ages of 40 and 80, although the most affected are in their 60s.

However, there has also been an increase in the number of young people reporting tinnitus symptoms. For example, "data from the 2012 to 2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) show that 43% of Canadians aged 16 to 79 (11.5 million) had experienced tinnitus during their lifetime and that 35% had experienced the condition within the past year."

The really staggering bit about ages is this: "Younger individuals aged 19 to 29 years were more likely than individuals in the older age groups to have experienced tinnitus in the past year." The good thing is that they say they're not bothered by it.

The bottom line? Nearly 60% of college kids says they have some form of tinnitus (chronic, acute, or moderate). 

The ages at which tinnitus is most common in younger people are not well-defined, but it appears that it's becoming more common in high school and college-aged individuals. The reasons for this are not entirely clear, but it may be due to exposure to loud noises from listening to music through earbuds or attending concerts and sporting events.

Ear infections in children may also play a role in the development of tinnitus. Infections that cause damage to the inner ear can lead to tinnitus, especially if they are not treated promptly. It's not clear how significant a role ear infections play in the development of tinnitus in younger people.

In addition to rock concerts, other loud school-related events are being examined, such as band classes and marching bands. Football games can also be a significant source of loud noise. Again, it's simply not clear whether these activities are contributing significantly to the development of tinnitus in younger people.

Still, it probably doesn't hurt to wear earplugs when taking part in some activities, like bowling, going to the movies, when vacuuming or mowing the lawn and using a leaf blower. Certainly very loud events, such as motorsports and car races, shooting competitions, music festivals and marching bands, are all significant sources of noise exposure and you can try wearing earplugs to lessen your tinnitus risk.

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