Personal music devices may be contributing to this trend, as constant exposure to high levels of noise irreparably damages tiny hairs within the ear that allow for hearing.

Kelly McCormick, a hearing aid specialist at Willougby Hearing Aid Centers, says a growing number of his younger customers exhibit hearing loss.

"They're doing damage to their hearing unquestionably," he says.

Zubin Desai, a student, says his doctor told him that listening to loud music through headphones had already impaired his hearing.

McCormick advocates putting warning labels on music devices or using an electronic warning system to alert listeners when music is at a damaging level, although he questions whether such measures will be effective.

"Warning labels on cigarettes - do they help? I don't know, but we put them on (anyway)," he says.

By Ed Teachout, KATU