If you enjoy your music at max volume, you’re probably damaging your hearing. Headphones and earbuds afford you convenience and discretion as you can use them almost anywhere without disturbing those close to you.
They are also an escape for some who want to immerse themselves in music, games, and memories. People listen to music to reminisce, help them focus, get through a workout session, etc. Others want to listen to motivational speeches, podcasts, audiobooks, watch motives, etc.
Almost everyone has a use for these gadgets, but they’re often overused, which could lead to hearing loss. That pair of earphones that you can’t leave the house could be the reason you’re developing a hearing problem.
How to use headphones
Music is part of the lifestyle today; thus, headphones have become a necessity. When you get a pair of earbuds or headphones, often, the first test is to crank up the volume to max. You want to hear how loud they can get and judge if you got a good deal.
When you increase the volume to the max, you can hear that it’s too loud. This is because it takes time for your ears to adapt to this volume. Thus, if you listen to music at low to mid volumes, your ears will get used to this. Anything higher than what you’re used to becomes a nuisance.
You can listen to music at full volume but only for about a song or two. However, this shouldn’t be a common occurrence, especially if you want to avoid hearing loss as you grow older.
Noise exposure has a greater impact, the longer you’re exposed to the sound. It all adds up the more you use headphones, attend concerts, use loud tools, etc. This is why breaks are recommended when using headphones.
How do you prevent hearing loss?
Hearing loss isn’t limited to older people; even you can develop hearing loss in your teens, 20s, 30s, etc. Take the initiative to prevent hearing loss by adhering to some of the tips listed below:
Noise-cancelling headphones
The main reason users increase the volume to the maximum is because the sound is inaudible due to environmental sounds. You can get active noise-cancelling headphones or passive noise-cancelling headphones depending on your preferences and budget.
The former generates soundwaves that cancel out any environmental sounds, while the latter is designed to cancel external noise by sealing your ear canal. Without the external noise, you can enjoy listening to whatever you want at the recommended volume.
Hearing test
Consult an audiologist as they can recommend the best practices when using headphones. Your hearing health is important, and if there is a way you can prevent hearing loss as you age and even while young, you might want to take it.
You can start by getting a hearing screening instead of waiting until your hearing deteriorates. Phonak Online Hearing Test would be a great place to start, and it only takes 3 minutes. You can do it at home, school, or even during your lunch break.
It’s time you paid more attention to your ear and hearing health.
Get earplugs if you frequent noisy places
If you attend concerts or live close to construction sites, get a pair of earplugs. It’s tempting to use headphones to listen to music, but the external noise quickly becomes a problem. Typically, the response to this problem is to keep increasing the volume until you hit the max.
A better alternative would be to get noise-cancelling headphones as they’ll block out the external noise. This will eliminate the need to keep increasing the volume.
Limit usage to 60 minutes a day
Although the norm is to have your headphones on for hours on end, it’s not advisable.
In fact, the recommended limit is 60 minutes a day at 60% volume. Enjoy your music in moderation and allow your ears time to recover.
Take your headphones off and let your ears rest for some time.
Wrapping up
Listening to music via your headphones might damage your ears and cause permanent hearing loss. It might not occur today or tomorrow, but the louder and longer you continue using these gadgets, the risk of hearing loss by age 40, 50, and 60 increases.
You don’t need to listen to music at 100% volume when you can enjoy the same experience at 50-60% volume. No one is saying that you need to ditch your headphones. The idea is that you limit volume and time spent listening to music via these gadgets.
Posted by Mighty Gadget Blog: UK Technology News and Reviews
