Could your earphones be damaging your hearing? Warning signs you shouldn't ignore
Earphones have become a part of everyday life, whether people use them while traveling, working out, studying, or scrolling through social media.
But listening to loud noise for long periods of time can expose the ears to harmful noise, which can cause permanent hearing damage over time.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than one billion young people aged 12-35 are at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening habits.
How can headphones affect your hearing?
Inside the ear are tiny sensory hair cells that help convert sound into signals the brain can understand? Loud noise can damage these cells. Once damaged, they don't grow back, which means hearing loss caused by excessive noise can be permanent.
The risk depends on how loud the sound is, how long you listen, and how often you're exposed to it. Even if your ears feel normal, repeated exposure to loud noises can cause damage that progress gradually.
Five warning signs to look out for
Ringing or buzzing: Hearing a ringing sound in the ears after removing the headphones, called tinnitus. Hearing loss: Sounds may seem muffled or less clear after listening to loud music.
Difficulty understanding speech: You may have difficulty understanding people, especially in noisy places.
Frequent volume increases: You may need to turn up the volume to hear audio clearly.
These symptoms don't always mean permanent hearing loss, but persistent symptoms should prompt a hearing test.
How fast is too much?
As a practical precaution, the WHO recommends limiting personal audio volume to less than 60% of maximum. However, actual sound levels vary between devices and headphones, so percentages alone cannot guarantee safe listening.
According to WHO guidance, listening at an average sound level of 80 decibels can be safe for up to 40 hours a week, while at 90 decibels, the recommended safe listening time is about four hours a week. Safe exposure time decreases rapidly at higher volumes.
Five ways to protect your ears
Turn down the volume: Avoid listening at high volumes, especially for long periods of time.
Take regular breaks: Keep your ears away from audio, especially during prolonged listening.
Use noise-canceling headphones: In noisy environments, these can reduce the urge to turn up the volume.
Check sound-level settings: Use your phone's headphone-safety feature or sound-exposure monitoring tool, if available.
When should you seek medical help?
If ringing in your ears or hearing loss persists after you've heard a loud noise, seek medical attention. Sudden hearing loss, especially in one ear, requires immediate medical attention rather than waiting for it to improve on its own.
Important note: You don't have to stop using earphones to protect your hearing. Keeping the volume low, avoiding loud listening, and recognizing early warning signs can help you enjoy music and videos while reducing your risk of hearing damage.
PC: Kalingatv