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Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the notifiable occupational disease under legislation related to occupational health and safety of most of the countries of the world. So far risk of exposure to high noise level was considered to be limited to industrial environment only. However, with rapid urbanization and modernization, the cities are becoming crowded as well as noisy. Exposure to noise from these sources have put the population not exposed to industrial noise also at risk of NIHL, especially the younger population. If corrective measures are not taken this may lead to high percentage of younger urban population with permanent hearing loss.One hundred and fifty students were selected for study which involved questionnaires, interview, routine ENT checkup and audiogram. All the students gave history of exposure to excessive noise from community sources. Two students had residence near railway station while other two stayed near the main highway. It was found that 75% of them had the habit of listening to music with volume at the peak. A total of 10.7% students from the group were found to have hearing loss in range of 26 to 42 decibel which is alarming. The nature of hearing loss temporary or permanent is yet to be assessed by repeating the audiogram.

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