Meet James, a Say hello to music enthusiast who perfectly incorporates Spotify into his work regimen, switches to Pandora during his workouts, and curates playlists for every instance conceivable, from cardio programs to cooking and even gaming. He’s rarely observed without his headphones, which have become an essential part of his day-to-day life, transforming every moment into a personalized audio adventure. James takes comfort and joy in the engaging realm of music, but the very source of his happiness might be damaging his cherished ability to hear without him recognizing it.
Regarding our ears, there are both safe and unsafe ways to indulge in music. Unfortunately, a lot of us lean towards the second option.
How does prolonged music exposure lead to hearing loss?
Extended exposure to loud sounds can lead to a decline in your auditory function. We’re used to regarding hearing loss as an issue related to growing old, but more and more research suggests that it’s actually the build-up of noise-related damage that is the issue here and not anything inherent in the process of aging.
It also appears that younger ears are particularly susceptible to noise-related damage (they’re still forming, after all). However, teenagers tend to ignore the possible hazards of excessive noise over time. A growing amount of young individuals are experiencing hearing loss due to frequent use of loud headphones.
Can one listen to music without any safety concerns?
Listening to music at full blast with no limits is the most hazardous strategy. There is a way to enjoy to music more safely, which typically means decreasing the volume. The recommended safe volume levels are normally as follows:
- Adults should restrict their device listening time to 40 hours or less and ensure the volume stays below 80 dB.
- If you’re younger than 18, 40 hours is still ok, just be certain to keep the volume at a safe level, 75 decibels or lower.
Forty hours per week is about five hours and forty minutes a day. Although it might seem excessive, the time can pass unexpectedly fast. Even still, most individuals have a fairly strong concept of monitoring time– it’s something we’re trained to do effectively from a very young age.
The harder part is keeping track of your volume. On the majority of smart devices, computers, and televisions, volume is not measured in decibels. It’s gauged 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 close you are to reaching that limit.
Tips for effectively keeping track of your music volume
To deal with this issue, numerous free noise tracking apps are available for both iPhone and Android devices. These apps provide instant feedback on ambient noise levels, enabling users to tweak their listening volume to safe levels.
Because of this, many audiologists recommend using one of the numerous noise level tracking apps available at no cost. These apps– extensively available for both iPhone and Android devices– will give you real-time readouts on the noises around you. In this manner, you can monitor the decibel level of your music as it plays and make adjustments as necessary.
Comparing relative volumes: from garbage disposals to dishwasher
For instance, a volume level of 80 decibels is comparable 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 concern.
It’s important to exercise heightened caution when noise levels surpass this critical point. Think about decreasing your exposure to exceedingly loud music by listening to specific songs at the highest volume instead of listening to entire albums.
Recurring exposure to elevated volume levels can lead to hearing problems such as tinnitus and eventual hearing loss. By being aware of when our ears move into the danger zone, we empower ourselves to make educated decisions, with the ultimate goal of fostering safer listening practices.
Schedule a hearing assessment
To further prioritize your hearing health, think about reaching out to a hearing specialist to set up a thorough hearing exam. Taking proactive actions like consistent assessments can pinpoint possible problems at an early stage, enabling quick actions and customized advice to safeguard your valuable hearing.