Research by VeiligheidNL in 2019 already showed that 50% of young people listen to music at a volume of 70% or higher. This sound level increases the risk of hearing damage. To limit this risk, StukTV has devised a challenge encouraging young people to turn down the volume on their headphones and take a professional hearing test via stuk.tv/hoortest.
The Challenge
In a video, Giel, Thomas and Stefan demonstrate in their own distinctive way, by dancing, that turning the volume on your headphones all the way up is not okay. They point out that the decibel meter on your headphones, which changes from red to green, makes it easy to see when you are listening safely and when you are not. They also explain that hearing damage is irreversible: “You only have one pair of ears, so don’t fuck with them.” Fans are challenged to dance along with the men and send them a video of themselves doing so. The best videos submitted via Instagram or TikTok will appear in a new StukTV video about this challenge.
Research into hearing damage
Listening to music is a favourite activity for young people between the ages of 12 and 18. During the 2018–2019 school year, VeiligheidNL, together with four youth healthcare organisations, conducted research among this target group. It showed that 13% of students received a negative result on the online Oorcheck, which indicates the beginnings of hearing damage. Almost all students listen to music through a music player, and more than half listen every day. Half of the students listen at a high volume (70% or louder) and do not (yet) use the volume limiter. No less than 15% already hear a (temporary) ringing sound after listening to or making music. Only 6% of students protect themselves when going out by wearing earplugs almost always or always, while nearly half of the students have experienced ringing in their ears after going out.
Read more here about the findings of the research