Key Takeaways

About 1 in 8 teens in the Netherlands show signs of hearing loss

Around 13% had “notches” indicating some hearing loss at specific frequencies

6% had suffered some permanent hearing loss

THURSDAY, Dec. 4, 2025 (HealthDay News) — About 1 in every 8 teenagers show signs of hearing loss by the time they reach 18, a new study says.

About 13% of teens show signs that noise has damaged their hearing by 18, and 6% have suffered some permanent hearing loss, researchers report.

"These findings highlight the importance of early monitoring and prevention, as even mild changes in hearing during adolescence may have long-term consequences,” lead researcher Dr. Stefanie Reijers , an otorhinolaryngologist with Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, said i

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