According to a ranking of 50 large cities released on Friday, Urban noise pollution is closely linked if not directly causative of hearing loss.
High-decibel urban areas -- such as Guangzhou, New Delhi, Cairo and Istanbul -- topped the list of cities where hearing was most degraded, researchers reported. Similarly, cities least afflicted by noise pollution -- including Zurich, Vienna, Oslo and Munich -- registered the lowest levels of decline in hearing.
Nonetheless, this stands as only statistical data and doesnt necessarily prove any direct correlation between the constant racket of city life and hearing loss; which is also caused by many other factors such as infections, genetic disorders, premature birth and even some medications.
The findings are also preliminary, and have yet to be submitted for peer-reviewed publication.
Henrik Matthies, director of Mimi Hearing Technologies told foreign media, But this is a robust result. We amassed data on 200,000 people drawn from a hearing test administered via cell phones. The fact that noise pollution and hearing loss have such a tight correlation points to an intricate relationship."
The findings highlight the need for better monitoring, the researchers said. "While eye and sight checks are routine, ear and hearing exams are not," said Manfred Gross, head of the department of Audiology and Phoniatrics at Charite University Hospital.
"The earlier hearing loss is detected, the better the chances are for preventing further damage."
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