James is a music aficionado who has mastered the art of integrating his favored tunes into his daily life, easily shifting from Spotify at his work-desk to Pandora during his runs, and carefully crafting playlists to beautifully enhance every activity, whether he’s pumping iron, cooking a meal, or immersed in a gaming session. He’s rarely observed without his headphones, which have become an essential part of his day-to-day life, turning every moment into a personalized audio experience. James takes comfort and joy in the engaging world of music, but the very source of his joy may be harming his treasured ability to hear without him realizing it.
Regarding our ears, there are both safe and hazardous ways to enjoy music. Regrettably, many of us tend to gravitate towards the latter.
How does prolonged music exposure lead to hearing loss?
Over time, loud noises can bring about deterioration of your hearing abilities. Hearing loss is typically linked 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 stage. And yet, young adults are more likely to be dismissive of the lasting perils of high volume. So there’s an epidemic of younger people with hearing loss, thanks, in part, to widespread high-volume headphone usage.
Can one listen to music without any safety issues?
Listening to music at full blast with no limits is the most hazardous strategy. But there is a safe(er) way to enjoy your music, and it usually includes turning the volume down. The general guidelines for safe volumes are:
- For Adults: No more than 40 hours of listening on a device, and keep the volume below 80 dB.
- If you’re under 18, 40 hours is still fine, just be certain to keep the volume at a safe level, 75 decibels or lower.
Forty hours week is roughly five hours and forty minutes a day. That seems like a lot, but it can go by relatively quickly. Even still, most individuals have a pretty strong concept of keeping track of time– it’s something we’re trained to do successfully from a really young age.
The more challenging part is keeping track of your volume. On the majority of smart devices, computers, and televisions, volume is not measured in decibels. Its value is determined utilizing a somewhat subjective or relative scale. Perhaps it’s 1-100. But maybe it’s 1-16. You may be unaware of the maximum volume capacity of your device or how near you are to reaching that limit.
How to effectively monitor your music volume
Several free noise monitoring apps can be downloaded for both iPhone and Android devices to tackle this issue. These apps offer immediate feedback on ambient noise levels, allowing 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 obtainable apps, compatible with both iOS and Android platforms, supply instant sound-level feedback on the ambient 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 beyond
For instance, a noise level of 80 decibels is similar to the sound generated by a common garbage disposal or dishwasher – you can hear them, but they won’t blow your ears out. Identifying this volume level is important because it denotes the point at which hearing loss becomes a real and substantial worry.
So, being extra vigilant when exceeding this decibel limit is essential. Think about reducing your exposure to extremely loud music by listening to specific songs at the highest volume instead of listening to entire albums.
Prolonged 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 remaining aware of when our ears move into the danger zone, we enable ourselves to make educated decisions, with the ultimate goal of promoting safer listening practices.
Set up an appointment for a hearing assessment
To further prioritize your auditory health, think about reaching out to a hearing specialist to schedule a thorough hearing test. Proactive steps like regular screenings can identify any possible issues early on, enabling timely interventions and personalized recommendations to protect your precious sense of hearing.