Headphones are one of the most popular pieces of technology in the world and for good reason.
They’re versatile, convenient, and often provide a decent amount of sound quality for a given price. But how do headphones damage hearing?
Like anything else, headphones can have many negative consequences if used incorrectly like hearing loss, etc.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the ways in which headphones can damage your hearing, and how to avoid them.
Do Headphones Increase Your Risk Of Hearing Loss?
There’s no denying that headphones can increase your risk of hearing loss. In fact, a study published in the Oxford Journal of Otolaryngology found that listening to music for extended periods of time (more than an hour per day) is one of the leading causes of ear-related hearing loss.
This is because headphones block out external noise, which can lead to overuse damage and hearing loss.
How Do Headphones Damage Your Hearing?
The most common way headphones damage your hearing is by causing earbuds. Earbuditusis a condition where ear wax accumulates in the ear canal, which can ultimately cause hearing loss.
Earbuds are usually caused by long-term exposure to noise and music through headphones, as earbuds don’t allow external noise to travel into your ear.
Other ways headphones damage your hearing include:
Hearing Loss From Listening To Loud Music :
Listening to loud music for extended periods of time can cause hearing loss.
This is because headphones block out external noise, which can lead to overuse damage and hearing loss.
Ear Wax Build-Up That Can Lead To Earbuditus:
The earbud is a condition where earwax accumulates in the ear canal, which can ultimately cause hearing loss.
Earbuds are usually caused by long-term exposure to noise and music through headphones, as earbuds don’t allow external noise to travel into your ear.
Tinnitus Due To Listening To Loud Music:
People who listen to loud music on headphones often do so for extended periods of time, which can lead to tinnitus (a ringing or roaring sound in your ears).
Tinnitus is a common symptom of hearing damage and headphone use can aggravate it.
Hearing Loss From Listening To Music At Lower Volume Levels:
Even if you don’t use headphones, loud music can damage your hearing. Loud noise exposure over time can cause ear-related hearing loss.
So, headphone use can damage your hearing in a number of ways, including earbuds, hearing loss from listening to loud music, tinnitus due to listening to loud music, and hearing loss from listening at lower volume levels.
If your headphones are causing any of these problems for you or someone you know, it’s time to take some steps to prevent damage and hear better again.
5 Ways To Prevent Hearing Loss While Using Headphones
Following are 5 ways to help protect your hearing while using headphones:
1. Turn down the volume
One of the best ways to avoid hearing loss while using headphones is to always keep the volume low.
This way, you’ll minimize exposure to noise and ear-bandits-causing sounds.
And if you’re listening to music on your phone, make sure you’re using headphones that provide good sound quality without blasting loud noises into your ears.
2. Avoid Prolonged Use Of Earphones
If you want to enjoy a little bit of audio without hearing damage, be sure not to stick with earbuds for too long or use them excessively – 30 minutes per day should be plenty! And if you’re listening to music on your phone, limit yourself to an hour or two of listening per day.
3. Skip The Earbuds And Use Headphones With A Noise-Cancelling Feature
If you want maximum noise reduction without hearing damage, invest in headphones with a noise-canceling feature.
These will help block out external sounds so that you can safely enjoy your audio without risking hearing loss down the road.
4. Use Earmuffs When Using Loud Audio Devices
Another way to protect your ears from damage is by using earmuffs whenever you’re working with loud audio devices, like listening to music on headphones or using a lawnmower.
5. Take Frequent Ear-Checkups
The final tip to avoiding hearing damage while using headphones is to make sure you get checked regularly for ear infections and other ear health issues.
If either of these conditions is present, it can increase the risk of noise-induced hearing loss – so be sure to see your doctor if you’re experiencing any trouble hearing in loud environments!
Conclusion:
So there you have it: the truth behind how headphones can damage your hearing. By now, it should be clear that if you don’t pay attention to proper usage of headphones, they could end up causing irreversible damage to your ears.
You might also notice that music and other sounds become muffled whenever you wear them. This is because the tiny holes in headphones amplify noises instead of lowering their volume as they are supposed to do.
Thus, when used properly and with caution, headphones can be a great addition to your day-to-day life but if not handled responsibly, they can prove damaging to your hearing as well.
FAQs:
Can you damage your hearing if you listen to loud music with your headphones on all day long?
Yes, if you listen to loud music with headphones on all day long, you can damage your hearing.
How can I use earbuds to hear better?
By wearing earbuds that allow ambient noise into your ears when listening to music or watching videos, you can help protect your hearing from noise and music exposure while preventing earbuds and other hearing loss-related complications.
Will headphones or earphones damage your ears?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the risk of damage will vary depending on the type of earphones you are using, how loud the volume is being played, and your overall hearing health.
However, if you experience any difficulty hearing in noisy environments or hear ringing or other noise when listening to music or videos with headphones/earbuds on, it may be time for you to see a doctor for an evaluation.
