How Can I Avoid Earphone-Related Hearing Damage?

Earphones and headphones have turn out to be the most not unusual way for lots of us to enjoy music. Yet, it is often ignored that the very sounds we savour thru those gadgets can doubtlessly damage our hearing in the future. Noise-induced hearing damage, typically linked to occupations with exposure to high decibel levels like construction, is gradually impacting individuals listening to music at perilously high volumes.

How do earphones lead to hearing damage?

To comprehend this, it’s crucial to grasp how hearing and sound function. Sound waves traverse the ear canal, reaching the eardrum and auditory bones before arriving at the inner ear—specifically, the cochlea. This delicate structure is filled with fluid and lined with minuscule hair cells.

Upon reaching this point, the fluid vibrates and causes the hair cells to shift. The magnitude of these movements directly corresponds to the sound volume.

Nevertheless, lengthy exposure to loud music might impair this sensitivity, forcing these fragile hairs to bend or fold permanently and ultimately resulting in hearing loss. Furthermore, since auditory cells cannot regenerate, this damage becomes irreversible and makes users reliant on hearing aids.

Moreover, this problem is exacerbated by improper earphone usage when users force them further into their ears, causing infections.

How can you determine if you have hearing damage?

Various methods can reveal if you have hearing damage; however, common indicators are difficulty understanding people’s speech or frequently listening at over 80% of your earphones’ volume capacity. A whistling sound in your ears after an extended music session could also be a warning sign of hearing damage.

What steps can you take?

If you haven’t noticed any signs of hearing damage—well done! Your ears have remained unharmed. If you think you may have some level of hearing impairment, adopt these precautions to protect your ears:

1. Monitor the volume

Reducing your earphones’ volume is likely the simplest way to prevent hearing damage. Yet, identifying a safe volume level might differ depending on your earphones. Consequently, aim for a volume between 50%-70%, which allows you to relish your music while preserving your hearing.

Additionally, if you frequently cross the 70% threshold, consider setting a custom volume limit on your phone to cap the maximum volume.

2. Utilize Active Noise Cancellation

If your earphones or headphones support ANC, use it to block ambient noise, making regular listening volumes feel fuller and richer. While passive noise cancellation may have similar effects, it only works when earphones are inserted into the ear canals, potentially causing infections.

3. Put on some headphones

As its name implies, earphones transmit sound waves by sitting inside the ear canal. This closeness to the auditory cells, though, may be harmful. For prolonged listening sessions, it is thus recommended to utilize real on-ear headphones, which are located outside the ears.

4. Take pauses in between tasks.

If you don’t feel like turning down the level, taking pauses will also help avoid hearing damage since it will give your auditory cells a chance to unwind. Consequently, remember to follow the 60-60 rule, which states that you should only listen at 60% volume for a maximum of 60 minutes per day, and think about taking a 5-minute wreck after each half-hour of listening.