James is a music aficionado who has excelled in the art of integrating his favored tunes into his day-to-day life, easily shifting from Spotify at his workdesk 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. His headphones are his continual partners, transforming his life into a completely soundtracked experience. However, while James gets solace and joy in the immersive world of music, the very thing he cherishes could be quietly damaging his priceless sense of hearing.
Regarding our ears, there are both safe and hazardous ways to enjoy music. Unfortunately, a lot of us lean towards the second approach.
How does lengthy periods of music exposure lead to hearing loss?
Prolonged exposure to loud music can result in a decline in your auditory ability. We’re used to thinking of hearing loss as a problem related to growing old, but more and more research reveals that it’s really the build-up of noise-related damage that is the concern here and not anything intrinsic in the aging process.
Younger people are more sensitive to noise-induced harm as their ears are still in the developmental stage. However, teenagers tend to disregard the potential dangers of excessive noise over time. So there’s an epidemic of younger people with hearing loss, thanks, in part, to rampant high-volume headphone usage.
Is it possible to enjoy music safely?
Listening to music at full blast with no limits is the most hazardous approach. There is a way to enjoy to music more safely, which usually means lowering the volume. The recommended safe volume levels are typically as follows:
- For Adults: No more than 40 hours of listening on a device, and maintain the volume lower than 80 dB.
- If you’re younger than 18, 40 hours is still fine, just be certain to keep the sound at a safe level, 75 decibels or less.
Forty hours week translates into roughly five hours and forty minutes a day. Though it may appear excessive, the time can go by surprisingly fast. Even still, most people have a fairly solid concept of keeping track of time– it’s something we’re taught to do successfully from a very young age.
The harder part is monitoring your volume. On most smart devices, computers, and televisions, volume is not measured in decibels. Its value is calculated using a rather subjective or relative scale. The range could be as broad as 1 to 100, or it might be as narrow as 1 to 16. You may be unaware of the maximum volume range of your device or how close you are to reaching that limit.
How to effectively monitor your music volume
To deal with this problem, a number of free noise tracking apps are available for both iPhone and Android devices. These apps offer instant feedback on surrounding noise levels, helping users to fine-tune their listening volume to safe levels.
For this reason, many audiologists recommend utilizing one of the numerous noise level tracking apps available at no cost. These apps– widely available for both iPhone and Android devices– will give you real-time readouts on the noises surrounding you. In this way, you can monitor the decibel level of your music as it plays and make adjustments as necessary.
A volume comparison: garbage disposals and beyond
As illustration, 80 dB is approximately equivalent to the noise emitted by a common garbage disposal or dishwasher– audible, yet not overly loud. Recognizing this benchmark is essential, as it represents the threshold beyond which hearing damage becomes a tangible risk.
So, being extra cautious when surpassing this decibel threshold is essential. Think about reducing your exposure to extremely loud music by listening to specific songs at the highest volume rather than listening to entire albums.
Recurring exposure to increased volume levels can lead to hearing complications such as tinnitus and eventual hearing loss. By being cognizant of when our ears venture into the danger zone, we enable ourselves to make informed decisions, with the paramount goal of fostering safer listening practices.
Schedule a hearing exam
To further prioritize your hearing health, consider reaching out to a hearing specialist to set up a comprehensive hearing test. Proactive measures like regular assessments can detect any potential issues early on, allowing for timely interventions and personalized suggestions to safeguard your vital sense of hearing.