Say hello to James, a passionate music fan who perfectly integrates Spotify into his work routine, switches to Pandora during his workouts, and curates playlists for every occasion conceivable, from cardio sessions to cooking and even gaming. His headphones are his constant companions, transforming his life into a completely soundtracked experience. James takes comfort and delight in the captivating realm of music, but the very source of his happiness may be harming his treasured ability to hear without him recognizing it.
There are safe ways to enjoy music and ways that are more hazardous to your hearing health. Regrettably, many of us tend to gravitate towards the latter.
How does prolonged music exposure lead to hearing loss?
As time pass, loud noises can cause deterioration of your ability to hear. Hearing loss is typically connected to growing older, but recent studies suggest that it is mainly caused by damage from exposure to loud sounds rather than being a normal part of getting older.
Younger individuals are more prone to noise-induced harm as their ears are still in the developmental phase. However, teenagers tend to disregard the potential hazards of excessive noise over time. So there’s an epidemic of younger people with hearing loss, thanks, in part, to rampant high-volume headphone use.
Can one listen to music without any safety issues?
Unregulated full volume is clearly the” dangerous” way to listen to music. But there is a safe(er) way to enjoy your tunes, and it normally involves turning the volume down. The general rules for safe volumes are:
- For Adults: No more than 40 hours of listening on a device, and maintain the volume lower than 80 dB.
- For Teens and Minors: You can still listen for 40 hours, but keep the volume level below 75 dB.
Forty hours per week is about five hours and forty minutes a day. Though it might seem excessive, the time can go by unexpectedly fast. Even still, most individuals have a pretty solid concept of monitoring time– it’s something we’re taught to do successfully from a very young age.
The more difficult aspect entails tracking your sound level. Technologies like smartphones, computers, and TVs typically do not display volume in decibels. It’s gauged on some arbitrary scale. Maybe it’s 1-100. But maybe it’s 1-16. You might not have any clue what the max volume on your device is, or how close to the max you are.
Tips for efficiently keeping track of your music volume
Several free noise monitoring apps can be found for both iPhone and Android devices to tackle this problem. These apps supply instant feedback on ambient noise levels, enabling users to adjust their listening volume to safe levels.
That’s why the majority of hearing specialists advise the use of one of many free noise monitoring apps. These widely accessible apps, compatible with both iOS and Android platforms, supply instant sound-level feedback on the background noise around you. In this way, you can monitor the decibel level of your music as it plays and make changes accordingly.
Comparing relative volumes: from garbage disposals to dishwasher
For instance, a volume level of 80 decibels is similar to the sound produced by a basic garbage disposal or dishwasher – you can hear them, but they won’t blow your ears out. Acknowledging this benchmark is crucial, as it represents the limit beyond which hearing damage becomes a tangible risk.
It’s important to exercise heightened vigilance when noise levels go above this critical point. Consider decreasing your exposure to extremely loud music by listening to specific songs at the highest volume rather than listening to entire albums.
Extended exposure to loud sounds can lead to hearing problems, including ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, and potentially irreversible damage to one’s hearing. By being mindful of when our ears move into the danger zone, we empower ourselves to make educated decisions, with the paramount goal of promoting safer listening practices.
Set up an appointment for a hearing evaluation
To further prioritize your auditory health, think about reaching out to a hearing specialist to schedule a thorough hearing test. Taking proactive actions like consistent screenings can pinpoint possible problems at an early stage, enabling quick actions and customized advice to protect your valuable hearing.