Hearing Health can Deteriorate from using Earbuds and Headphones

It should be no surprise that whether you are listening to music or media, a long length of time spent listening plus a high volume level can eventually lead to hearing loss. 

This can happen to anyone, at any age and at any time.

Across the globe, children, teens, and young adults spend time listening to music for several hours each day. The volumes often surpass the recommended limits for each person. Awareness of this issue, and actions taken against it, is the best way to practice self-care. 

The previous threshold for listening was 85 decibels (dB), but that has currently been lowered to 70 dB by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 50 percent of people between the ages of 12 to 35 are susceptible to hearing loss after long and disproportionate exposure to powerful sounds from music playing through earbuds or headphones.

It’s important to remind readers that serious levels of hearing loss are not signs of normal aging. It’s a result of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). 

It’s similar to how many falsely believe that large wrinkles and dark spots of skin are signs of normal aging. They are the result of harmful exposure to solar and UV rays. 

Important Hearing Statistics

Anyone who frequently uses a personal listening device, along with earbuds or headphones, is damaging their hearing health. 

The younger population tends to have listening devices that come with earbuds or headphones. While others can’t hear their chosen media, they are doing serious harm to their hearing. 

Many of these young people will begin to notice difficulty with their hearing by the time they reach their mid-40s. They will struggle with hearing just as much as their grandparents, who are at least in their 70s. 

Hearing loss not only impacts your ability to hear and communicate but as frequently mentioned in this blog, cognitive decline and risks of dementia become more serious. 

In a study from 2011, people with hearing loss had a higher chance of having dementia symptoms if:

1. they had mild hearing loss, there were two times the risk of dementia.
2. moderate hearing loss was at three times the risk
3. Anyone with severe hearing loss was at five times the risk

Research indicates that anyone who does not receive treatment for their hearing loss promptly is at higher risk of dementia.

There have been studies that showed hearing loss that was treated with hearing aids reduced risks of cognitive decline and dementia.       
  
Even though this information is important, the key to healthy hearing is preventative care. General health habits like diet and exercise help your overall health, which can impact your hearing health. 

Follow Healthy Limits to Noise

As frequently mentioned in this blog, hearing loss from noise can occur instantly or gradually over time. 

Some people live in bustling cities or work in loud environments, causing recurring exposure to unsafe levels of noise which could impact long-term health. 

Here are tips on how to keep your hearing health safe:

• Keep sounds around 70 dB.  Even if it's a long exposure, sounds at this level, probably won’t lead to hearing loss. But extended or repetitive exposure to sounds that are 85 dB or more can lead to hearing loss. 
• If you or someone nearby needs to yell to be heard, that’s a good indication that the environment has reached its 75 dB threshold.
• It’s tricky to tell what the decibel level is on your devices, so it’s advised to keep the device at 50 percent and reduce the amount of time spent listening.   
• You can monitor your iPhone’s sound level by using the ‘Hearing’ app via the Control Center to determine the headphone audio level. The app will show your average listening level, and make sure that you are remaining below the recommended 70 dBA average. 
• Use volume-limited headphones for children. The volume limits are normally set at approximately 85 dBA, but parents should still keep the usage and volume in check.
• Wear earbuds, earmuffs, foam plugs, reusable earplugs, or customized earplugs. Musician-filtered hearing protection is available so that you can enjoy music while being protected from harmful noise levels.

​Hearing health in children and teens is particularly important. Their bodies are still developing. They need to hear to learn and acquire social skills. Hearing loss impedes that process for social development and education, which can negatively impact work performance and income. 

Sound Level Meter App  

You may use a free or inexpensive sound level meter app to measure noise levels in any environment and determine whether you should leave the area for a quieter space.  


Detect Warning Signs of Hearing Loss

It’s important to know what the warning signs of hearing loss are so that you can immediately seek help. Oftentimes, it’s family members, friends, or co-workers who notice your hearing loss before you do. Here are some common signs:

• The inability to hear in busy environments. Have you ever thought to yourself, “I can hear, but I can’t understand what is being said”?
• Tinnitus - a buzzing, clicking, ringing, or whooshing noise, that only you can hear is an early sign of a damaged auditory system. It could also be an indication of eventual hearing loss.   
• Get your hearing tested regularly. Anyone over the age of 50 should be getting an annual hearing test. 
• If you notice any shifts in your ability to hear, new or worsening symptoms of tinnitus, get your hearing checked immediately.

This rounds up our work of raising awareness for Protect Your Hearing Month.

If you are noticing hearing loss, or if you haven’t had your hearing checked in a long time, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a variety of hearing aids and some assistive listening devices for a wide range of hearing loss. 

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