In today’s technologically-driven world, headphones have become an integral part of our lives. In fact, most of us have our headphones in at least once a day.
Whether we’re working out, commuting, or simply unwinding whilst listening to music, podcasts or watching movies, headphones provide us with an immersive audio experience.
Despite their prevalence, there have been concerns arising regarding the potential dangers of excessive headphone usage, especially in terms of hearing loss.
So, the question lies – can an over-usage of headphones cause hearing loss?
Understanding the underlying causes of hearing loss is crucial to comprehending the possible effects of the over-usage of headphones on hearing.
Tiny hair cells in the cochlea of our ears transform sound waves into electrical impulses that are subsequently sent to and interpreted by the brain.
Because of how delicate they are, these hair cells can be damaged by prolonged exposure to loud sounds.
The volume at which we listen to audio is one of the main causes of headphone-related hearing loss. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), exposure to sounds louder than 85 dB over an extended period of time may harm our hearing. It does not help that headphones these days are often made to produce sound levels well above this threshold, especially when paired with powerful audio equipment.
The duration of headphone usage also plays a key role. Even at lower volumes, prolonged exposure to sounds may lead to cumulative damage over time. Individuals who have headphones on for several hours a day -- such as gamers, musicians, or office workers who enjoy listening to music whilst at work -- may be more likely to develop headphone-related hearing loss.
Another consideration is the proximity of the sound source to our ears. When using headphones, the music bypasses any external sound-dampening effects and is sent straight into the ear canal.
This close and direct delivery of sound increases the intensity of the audio signals reaching our inner ears, potentially leading to higher chances of damage to the delicate hair cells.
Of course, it goes without saying that in-ear headphones will be more damaging than over-the-ear ones.
To mitigate the risk of hearing loss, experts recommend following a few simple guidelines.
The most important thing is to keep the volume at a reasonable level. Generally speaking, the volume is too loud if you have to yell or raise your voice to communicate with someone nearby. Additionally, giving your ears time to rest and recover by taking regular breaks is crucial.
Some of the headphones can generate sounds more than 115dBSPL that’s equivalent to a rock concert and way too loud for extended listening periods. Selecting the appropriate headphones may also help. Consider volume limiting headphones at least for your children. With their improved noise isolation, over-the-ear headphones can help minimise the need for louder volumes. Furthermore, noise-cancelling headphones allow users to enjoy their audio content without having to turn up the volume excessively, which may be very helpful in areas with high background noise levels.
Many of the modern smartphones now have a option to protect your hearing by limiting the audio output to a specified safe listening level when you stream content to headphones.
In conclusion, while the convenience and enjoyment provided by headphones are undeniable, over-usage can potentially lead to hearing loss.
Get your hearing tested by a professional audiologist and hearing specialist in Singapore, like D&S Audiology today. Such a test can offer insights into your hearing health. And if you find that you’re suffering from hearing loss, we provide a range of solutions, including hearing aids, bone-anchored hearing aids, cochlear implants and more, to help you hear better again.
Contact us today for more information.
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