WORLD - A new study found that a quarter of Britons cannot leave the house without their headphones.

The survey included 2,000 adults, and some said they would even go back home if they realized they had forgotten their headphones, even six minutes into their journey.

Despite this heavy reliance on headphones, 35% of participants had never thought about the potential damage to their hearing, especially when listening at very high volumes.

Even more concerning, 15% routinely ignore warnings on their phones that the volume is too loud.

For Gen Z listeners, it takes an average of three warnings before they actually lower the volume.

Meanwhile, 27% of them turn the volume up after being warned instead of lowering it.

Gordon Harrison, chief audiologist at Specsavers, which conducted the study, said: “Extended exposure to loud sounds through headphones can cause permanent damage to the delicate structures of the ear.

This may lead to hearing loss and tinnitus, which are often irreversible and can worsen over time”.

With the New Year in full swing, more people are using headphones during workouts.

Harrison emphasized the importance of monitoring both volume and listening time, as the damage is not always immediately noticeable.

To protect their hearing, 28% of people plan to lower the volume, while 17% want to reduce headphone use altogether.

Meanwhile, 27% have finally decided to book a hearing test they had been putting off.