James is a music aficionado who has mastered the art of incorporating his favorite music into his day-to-day life, effortlessly transitioning from Spotify at his work-desk to Pandora on his runs, and carefully putting together 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 important part of his day-to-day life, turning every moment into an individualized audio adventure. However, while James gets relaxation and joy in the immersive world of music, the very thing he loves could be silently weakening his priceless sense of hearing.
Concerning our ears, there are both safe and unsafe ways to indulge in music. Sadly, many of us tend to gravitate towards the latter.
How does prolonged music exposure result in hearing loss?
Over time, loud noises can lead to degeneration of your hearing abilities. We’re used to regarding hearing loss as an issue related to growing old, but an increasing amount of research reveals that it’s really the accumulation of noise-related damage that is the concern here and not anything intrinsic in the aging process.
It also appears that younger ears are especially vulnerable to noise-related damage (they’re still forming, after all). And yet, young adults are more likely to be dismissive of the lasting hazards of high volume. So there’s an epidemic of younger people with hearing loss, thanks, in part, to rampant high-volume headphone usage.
Can one listen to music without any safety issues?
Unrestricted full volume is obviously the” hazardous” way to listen to music. But there is a safe(er) way to enjoy your music, and it usually includes turning the volume down. The general rules for safe volumes are:
- Adults should restrict their device listening time to 40 hours or less and make sure the volume stays below 80 dB.
- For Teens and Minors: You can still listen for 40 hours, but keep the volume level lower than 75 dB.
Breaking it down, you’re dealing with roughly 5 hours and 40 minutes of listening each day. That might seem like a lot, but it can go by relatively quickly. Even still, most people have a fairly strong concept of keeping track of time– it’s something we’re taught to do successfully from a very young age.
The more challenging part is monitoring your volume. On the majority of smart devices, computers, and televisions, volume is not computed in decibels. It’s measured on some arbitrary scale. Maybe 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.
Tips for efficiently keeping track of your music volume
To address this problem, numerous free noise monitoring apps are available for both iPhone and Android devices. These apps offer real-time insights into ambient noise levels, equipping users to calibrate their music volume accordingly.
That’s why most hearing specialists recommend the use of one of many free noise monitoring apps. These apps– widely available for both iPhone and Android devices– will give you real-time readouts on the noises around you. In this way, you can monitor the decibel level of your music as it plays and make adjustments accordingly.
Comparing relative volumes: from garbage disposals to dishwasher
For instance, a volume 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. Recognizing this volume level is important because it marks the point at which hearing loss becomes a real and tangible worry.
So, being extra cautious when surpassing this decibel limit is essential. Think about decreasing your exposure to exceedingly loud music by listening to certain songs at the highest volume instead of listening to entire albums.
Repeated exposure to elevated volume levels can lead to hearing complications including tinnitus and eventual hearing loss. By being aware of when our ears are at risk, we enable ourselves to make informed choices in order to encourage safer listening habits.
Schedule a hearing exam
To further prioritize your hearing health, consider reaching out to a hearing specialist to set up a thorough hearing test. Proactive steps such as regular screenings can detect any possible problems early on, enabling timely interventions and personalized recommendations to safeguard your precious sense of hearing.