James is a music aficionado who has excelled in the art of integrating his favored music into his day-to-day life, easily shifting from Spotify at his desk to Pandora during his runs, and meticulously crafting playlists to beautifully complement every activity, whether he’s pumping iron, cooking a meal, or immersed in a gaming session. His headphones are his constant companions, transforming his life into a completely soundtracked experience. James takes comfort and joy in the captivating world of music, but the very source of his happiness may be damaging his treasured ability to hear without him recognizing it.
Concerning our ears, there are both safe and dangerous ways to indulge in music. Sadly, many of us tend to incline towards the latter.
How does lengthy periods of music exposure lead to hearing loss?
As time pass, loud noises can lead to degeneration of your hearing abilities. We’re used to regarding hearing loss as an issue associated with aging, but an increasing amount of research suggests that it’s really the build-up of noise-related damage that is the concern here and not anything intrinsic in the aging process.
It also turns out that younger ears are especially vulnerable to noise-related damage (they’re still forming, after all). However, teenagers tend to ignore the possible risks of excessive noise over time. So there’s an epidemic of younger people with hearing loss, thanks, in part, to widespread high-volume headphone use.
Can one listen to music without any safety concerns?
Unregulated full volume is clearly the” hazardous” way to listen to music. But there is a safe(er) way to enjoy your music, 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 keep the volume lower than 80 dB.
- If you’re younger than 18, 40 hours is still fine, just be certain to keep the sound at a safe level, 75 decibels or less.
Forty hours week translates into roughly five hours and forty minutes a day. That might seem like a lot, but it can go by rather quickly. Even still, most people have a fairly solid concept of keeping track of time– it’s something we’re trained to do effectively from a really young age.
The more challenging part is keeping track of your volume. On most smart devices, computers, and televisions, volume is not computed in decibels. Its value is established using a rather subjective or relative scale. The range could be as broad as 1 to 100, or it could be as narrow as 1 to 16. You may be unaware of the maximum volume capacity of your device or how near you are to reaching that limit.
Tips for effectively keeping track of your music volume
To deal with this problem, a number of free noise monitoring apps are available for both iPhone and Android devices. These apps supply instant feedback on surrounding noise levels, helping users to adjust their listening volume to safe levels.
For this reason, many audiologists suggest using one of the numerous noise level tracking applications available at no cost. These apps– extensively available for both iPhone and Android devices– will give you real-time readouts on the noises surrounding you. That way, you can monitor the dB level of your music in real time and make adjustments.
A volume comparison: garbage disposals and beyond
For example, a noise level of 80 decibels is comparable to the sound produced by a common garbage disposal or dishwasher – you can hear them, but they won’t blow your ears out. Recognizing this volume level is important because it marks the point at which hearing loss becomes a real and tangible concern.
So, being extra cautious when exceeding this decibel threshold is essential. Consider decreasing your exposure to exceedingly loud music by listening to certain songs at the highest volume instead of listening to entire albums.
Recurring exposure to increased volume levels can trigger hearing problems including tinnitus and eventual hearing loss. By being aware of when our ears move into the danger zone, we empower ourselves to make informed choices, with the paramount goal of promoting safer listening practices.
Book an appointment for a hearing assessment
To further prioritize your hearing health, consider reaching out to a hearing specialist to schedule a thorough hearing test. Taking proactive actions like regular screenings can pinpoint possible issues at an early stage, enabling quick actions and customized advice to protect your valuable hearing.