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Kenyan Youth at Risk of Hearing Loss from Prolonged Earphone Use

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Nyakundi Report

Newsroom 1 min read

This archive report was first published on 29 June 2019.

Published on June 29, 2019, a warning has been sounded by health experts in Kenya about the dangers of prolonged earphone use among the country's adolescents and young adults.

According to Dr. David Kimani, an ENT specialist at Family Heritage Hospital in Murang'a town, frequent use of headphones can lead to hearing capacity damage, not just for teenagers but for anyone who uses them for more than 90 minutes daily.

Dr. Kimani expressed concern that electromagnetic waves generated by earphones and headphones could have serious effects not only on the ears but also on the brain.

He advised parents to be more concerned with the use of audios by their children, restricting the volumes of their devices to prevent hearing impairment in their older age.

A 2-year-old hearing patient, Mary Wanjohi, shared her personal experience of using headphones from a young age, which led to tinnitus, a constant ringing in the ears, and hearing damage.

She emphasized the importance of being aware of the risks associated with prolonged earphone use and taking preventive measures to avoid hearing loss.

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