James is a music aficionado who has mastered the art of integrating his favorite music into his daily life, effortlessly transitioning from Spotify at his workdesk to Pandora on his runs, and meticulously crafting playlists to beautifully enhance every activity, whether he’s working out, whipping up a meal, or immersed in a gaming session. He’s seldom seen without his headphones, which have become an important part of his daily life, transforming every moment into a personalized audio experience. James takes comfort and delight in the captivating realm of music, but the very source of his happiness might be damaging his cherished ability to hear without him recognizing it.
There are safe ways to appreciate music and ways that are more risky to your hearing health. Sadly, many of us tend to gravitate towards the latter.
What is the connection between extended exposure to music and hearing loss?
Prolonged exposure to loud music can result in a decrease in your auditory function. We’re used to thinking of hearing loss as an issue related to growing old, but more and more research reveals that it’s actually the build-up of noise-related damage that is the issue here and not anything intrinsic in the process of aging.
Younger people are more sensitive to noise-induced damage as their ears are still in the developmental phase. However, teenagers tend to disregard the possible risks of excessive noise over time. So there’s an epidemic of younger people with hearing loss, thanks, in part, to rampant high-volume headphone use.
Is it possible to enjoy music safely?
Listening to music at full blast without any limits is the most dangerous approach. But there is a safe(er) way to enjoy your tunes, and it normally involves turning the volume down. The general rules for safe volumes are:
- Adults should limit 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 looking at about 5 hours and 40 minutes of listening every day. Though it may appear excessive, the time can pass unexpectedly fast. Even still, most people have a pretty strong concept of monitoring time– it’s something we’re taught to do successfully from a really young age.
The more challenging aspect entails keeping track of your sound level. Devices like smartphones, computers, and TVs usually do not show volume in decibels. Its value is calculated using a rather subjective or relative scale. Maybe it’s 1-100. But maybe it’s 1-16. You might be unaware of the maximum volume capacity of your device or how near you are to reaching that limit.
How to effectively monitor your music volume
To address this problem, a number of free noise tracking applications are available for both iPhone and Android devices. These apps supply instant feedback on surrounding noise levels, enabling users to adjust their listening volume to safe levels.
For this reason, many audiologists recommend using 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. That way, you can keep track of the dB level of your music in real time and make adjustments.
A volume comparison: garbage disposals and beyond
For example, a noise 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 benchmark is crucial, as it represents the threshold beyond which auditory damage becomes a substantial hazard.
So, being extra cautious when exceeding this decibel limit is important. Consider decreasing your exposure to extremely loud music by listening to certain songs at the highest volume rather than listening to entire albums.
Repeated exposure to elevated volume levels can trigger hearing complications including tinnitus and eventual hearing loss. By being mindful of when our ears venture into the danger zone, we enable ourselves to make informed decisions, with the ultimate goal of fostering safer listening practices.
Schedule a hearing assessment
To further prioritize your auditory health, think about reaching out to a hearing specialist to schedule a thorough hearing test. Practical measures like routine screenings can detect any possible problems early on, enabling timely interventions and personalized recommendations to safeguard your vital sense of hearing.
