How to Avoid Hearing Damage When Listening to Music

The rise of the smartphone has made music more accessible to people. Anyone with a device can listen to their favorite songs and albums with a few taps on their screens. Aside from enjoying music at home, it’s now also common for individuals to go out and enjoy hearing touring artists play live.

But, with this increased access to music, studies have discovered that people, especially those in the younger generation, are at a greater risk of developing hearing loss. It’s necessary to take some precautions to protect your hearing health and avoid hearing damage. Read on to learn some safety guidelines you can follow.

Limit Your Listening Volume and Time

Many people listen to music using their smartphones while studying or working. Often, they forget to take a break and end up using the device for hours on end. Some people put their phones at maximum volume, which usually exceeds 100 decibels. Experts say that exposure to this level for longer than 15 minutes is unsafe. This prolonged and intense listening habit will slowly lead to hearing problems.

So, when enjoying music, it’s best to follow the 60-60 rule. This means that you should set your device to only 60% of its total volume capacity and limit your use to 60 minutes at a time. Give your ears a long break before playing songs again.

Choose Headphones Over Ear Buds

The type of earphones you use will also affect your hearing. Generally, ear buds, which are made to fit your outer ear canal, are considered more harmful than other kinds of devices. This is because their speakers are closer to the eardrum and directly deliver sound waves to it.

So, it’s better to use headphones when listening to music. The sound waves are received more naturally by the eardrum because their speakers sit outside the ear. These devices are also better at blocking outside noises, so the user will be less tempted to increase the volume when listening to a song.

Use Earplugs or Earmuffs at Concerts

If you’re a music aficionado who enjoys not only listening to songs on your phone but also hearing them played live, you need to take precautions when attending a concert. An outdoor show can produce around 100 decibels of sound. Patrons often temporarily experience a reduced capacity to hear after a couple of hours. This problem is even more apparent among individuals located in front of amplifiers at the venue. With continuous exposure, this can lead to permanent hearing loss.

To prevent this from happening, use earplugs, headphones or earmuffs at the event. This can reduce the intensity of the sound by at least 15 to 35 decibels, effectively protecting your ears.

Contact Bluegrass Hearing Clinic

For more tips on preventing hearing loss, contact Bluegrass Hearing Clinic in Kentucky. We can help you care for your hearing health with our quality audiology services.