The World Health Organization (WHO) says 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of permanently damaging their hearing by listening to music "too much, too loudly." The organization also suggested that people should listen to music for no more than one hour a day to protect their hearing. But, Americans are listening to music for an average of more than four hours each day.

WHO pulled data from studies in several high and middle-income countries and found nearly half of people between the ages of 12 and 35 are exposed to unsafe sound levels from devices like headphones and earbuds. And, about 40 percent are risking their hearing while attending harmfully loud concerts and nightclubs.

Half of the 360 million people with “moderate to profound hearing loss” could have avoided it, according to WHO. The organization suggested using noise-canceling headphones to allow music to be heard clearly at a lower volume. It also said ear plugs should be worn at noisy venues and advised taking "listening breaks" and standing far away from speakers at gigs.

Musician says: "I have unwittingly helped to invent and refine a type of music that makes its principal proponents deaf." -- Pete Townshend, The Who guitarist.

Audiologist says: "Turn the music down . . . you don't need it to be drowning every other sound out." -- Wendy Pearce.

Doctor says: "We do realize this is a bit of a struggle, like alcohol consumption, so many risk factors linked to pleasure are not easy to change." -- Dr Etienne Krug, WHO.