Generation of Hearing Loss Caused by Earbuds
Earbuds can be a great way to enjoy music, but what many people don’t realize is that they can pose a serious threat to ear health. Listening to music through earbuds at high volumes or for long periods of time can cause permanent hearing loss.
Today, music is more accessible than ever, with thousands of songs available on IPods and smartphones that often come with a pair of earbuds when purchased. These devices can play music for many hours without draining the battery. This makes it much easier for people, especially children and teenagers, to listen to music for hours on end with the songs blasting directly into their ear canals. This is dangerous because after only about an hour of listening to music at any higher than 60% of the volume, the chances of developing hearing loss is significantly increased. This has led researchers to believe that younger generations are at a much higher risk for hearing loss than the generations before them, and many will remain unaware of the dangers of using earbuds until it is too late and the damage is done.
Earbud users will often turn the volume up to block out ambient noise when they are in a public place with a lot of people, but it is very important to avoid doing this, as high volumes can cause serious damage to the ears. Earbuds may not seem to play music too loudly, but in general, 80% of the maximum volume of an MP3 player through earbuds is about 96 decibels, which is slightly higher than the sound made by a lawnmower, except it is going directly into the ear through the earbuds!
It may be alarming to learn about the dangers of using earbuds, but fortunately, hearing loss is completely preventable. When used in moderation, earbuds are very safe. To prevent the loss of hearing, many doctors recommend that people follow the 60/60 rule, which states that earbuds should not be used for more than 60 minutes at a time and at no higher than 60% volume. It is also important to note that while they might not be as stylish as earbuds, traditional headphones are safer to use because they do not play the music directly into the ear canal.
In short, using earbuds is risky if the user is unaware of the dangers they pose, but a user that is educated and knows how to properly use earbuds to avoid hearing loss can continue to wear them safely and enjoy listening to music with them for years to come.
