Whether you like to listen to podcasts when taking the bus to work or love listening to music during your jogs through Floyd River Trail, headphones play an essential role in getting to enjoy our favorite media when we’re on the go.
However, if you’re a regular headphones user, it’s important to know how to use them safely in order to protect your hearing while still getting to enjoy the sounds you want to listen to.
Why Headphones Can Harm Your Hearing
Any prolonged exposure to noise over 85 decibels (dB) can damage the hair cells of your inner ear and lead to problems like tinnitus and hearing loss. If you like to listen to music at loud levels or have your headphones or earbuds on for an extended period of time each day, you could be doing permanent damage to your hearing.
A study published in 2022 examining headphone usage found that subclinical hearing loss was found in 83.4% of headphone users. Additionally, participants who used their headphones for multiple reasons, including music, gaming and leisure, accounted for a higher proportion of subclinical hearing loss.
How To Listen to Headphones Safely
Thankfully, there are several things you can do to enjoy listening to your headphones while still keeping your ears safe. These include:
- Keep your headphones at 60% or lower than their maximum level.
- Use an app on your smartphone that monitors the volume you are listening to, and make sure you aren’t going above 85 dB. Turn the volume down promptly if you get a warning.
- Take breaks from your headphones, particularly if you are listening to them for more than an hour.
Additionally, the type of headphones you use can play a part in protecting your hearing. In general, headphones that go over the ears are better than headphones that sit on the ear or earbuds that go inside the ear. They provide more room for sound to reverberate and are also better at blocking out outside sound (particularly if they are noise-canceling), meaning you’re less likely to need to turn the volume up.
Should You Get a Hearing Test
If you’ve been noticing that you’re asking others to repeat themselves more often or any other signs that your hearing has changed, make an appointment for a hearing test. The earlier you can get diagnosed and fitted for a pair of hearing aids, the better it will be for your overall hearing health.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment, contact Ear, Nose & Throat Consultants today.