Meet James, an avid music lover who seamlessly incorporates Spotify into his work regimen, switches to Pandora during his jogs, and curates playlists for every occasion imaginable, from cardio programs to cooking and even gaming. His headphones are his continual companions, converting his life into a fully soundtracked experience. However, while James gets solace and joy in the immersive world of music, the very thing he treasures could be quietly damaging his priceless sense of hearing.
There are safe ways to enjoy music and ways that are more risky to your hearing health. Sadly, many of us tend to gravitate towards the latter.
How does prolonged music exposure result in hearing loss?
Extended exposure to loud music can result in a decline in your auditory ability. Hearing loss is commonly linked to getting older, but recent studies suggest that it is primarily caused by damage from exposure to loud sounds rather than being a normal part of getting older.
Younger people are more sensitive to noise-induced damage as their ears are still in the developmental stage. However, teenagers tend to disregard the potential dangers of excessive noise over time. A growing amount of young people are experiencing hearing loss due to frequent use of loud headphones.
Is it possible to enjoy music safely?
Unrestricted 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:
- Adults should limit their device listening time to 40 hours or less and ensure the volume stays under 80 dB.
- If you’re younger than 18, 40 hours is still acceptable, just be certain to keep the sound at a safe level, 75 decibels or lower.
Breaking it down, you’re dealing with about 5 hours and 40 minutes of listening every day. Although it may seem excessive, the time can go by unexpectedly fast. Even still, most people have a pretty strong concept of keeping track of time– it’s something we’re trained to do effectively from a really young age.
The more challenging aspect involves keeping track of your sound level. Technologies like smartphones, computers, and TVs usually do not show volume in decibels. Its value is established utilizing a somewhat subjective or relative scale. Maybe it’s 1-100. But maybe it’s 1-16. You might be unaware of the maximum volume range of your device or how close you are to reaching that limit.
How to effectively track your music volume
To address this problem, a number of free noise monitoring apps are available for both iPhone and Android devices. These apps provide instant feedback on ambient noise levels, allowing users to adjust their listening volume to safe levels.
That’s why most hearing specialists encourage the use of one of many free noise tracking apps. These extensively accessible apps, compatible with both iOS and Android platforms, provide instant sound-level feedback on the background noise around you. That way, you can keep track of the dB level of your music in real time and make adjustments.
A volume comparison: garbage disposals and more
As illustration, 80 dB is roughly equivalent to the noise produced by a common garbage disposal or dishwasher– audible, yet not excessively loud. Acknowledging this benchmark is crucial, as it represents the limit beyond which hearing damage becomes a tangible danger.
So, being extra vigilant when exceeding this decibel threshold is important. Consider reducing exposure to overly loud music by enjoying select tracks at full volume instead of indulging in complete albums.
Repeated exposure to increased volume levels can trigger hearing problems such as tinnitus and eventual hearing loss. By remaining aware of when our ears move into the danger zone, we empower ourselves to make educated choices, with the paramount goal of promoting safer listening practices.
Schedule a hearing exam
To further prioritize your auditory health, consider reaching out to a hearing specialist to set up a thorough hearing exam. Taking practical actions like regular assessments can pinpoint possible issues at an early stage, enabling prompt actions and customized advice to protect your valuable hearing.
