Youth Unsafe Listening and Recreational Noise Exposure: A Narrative Review with a Saudi Perspective

Abstract Recreational noise exposure and unsafe listening practices are increasingly recognized as relevant public health concerns among adolescents and young adults, driven by widespread use of personal listening devices and greater access to high-intensity sound environments. This narrative review synthesizes current global evidence on unsafe listening behaviors and their hearing health implications, while incorporating emerging data from Saudi Arabia as a contextual example. Despite increasing awareness of noise-induced hearing risks, unsafe listening remains common, reflecting a gap between knowledge and behavior influenced by social norms, environmental exposure, and listening habits. Evidence suggests that early auditory effects may occur even in the absence of clinically detectable hearing loss, highlighting the importance of preventive attention. Addressing this issue requires integrated strategies that extend beyond awareness alone, including behavioral guidance, safer sound environments, and policy-level measures. Incorporating hearing health promotion into school-based programs, public health initiatives, and digital monitoring tools may support early prevention and reduce long-term auditory risk among youth.