Today’s technology allows us to pop in a pair of earbuds, tune out the world and enjoy our favorite music and podcasts anytime, anywhere. But are earbuds safe? Not always.
“Growing evidence suggests a troubling link between earbud use and potential hearing damage, particularly with younger people,” says CentraState ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist Chetan Shah, MD. “The convenience of earbuds and headphones and exposure to loud environments like concerts and sporting events contribute significantly to this trend.”
According to the World Health Organization, about 1 billion teenagers and young adults are at risk for hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices.
“People keep their earbuds in all day, or they simply forget to take them out,” says ENT nurse practitioner Kelly-Ann Kilcollins. “We’ve had patients come to the office with their earbuds still in.”
The Dangers to Your Hearing
Wearing earbuds or headphones at or below 70 decibels (dB) – about the volume of a running washing machine – is unlikely to cause hearing loss, even after long exposure.
However, cranking your music to 85 dB or above – the volume of a lawn mower – for prolonged periods can cause inner ear and auditory nerve damage, which can lead to irreversible hearing loss.
Earbuds can also compact earwax, making it harder to hear and prompting you to increase the volume to unhealthy levels.
So how can you tell if the volume is too loud?
“If you hold your earbuds or earphones an arm’s length away and you can easily hear your music, it’s probably too loud,” adds Kilcollins.
Safety Measures
To prevent hearing loss, Dr. Shah encourages these safer listening practices:
- Set volume limits, keeping your device’s volume below 70 dB or no more than half its volume range.
- Take listening breaks and limit earbud use to no more than two hours at a time.
- Use noise-canceling earbuds to eliminate external noise, allowing you to listen at lower volumes.
- Ensure proper fit to help block out background noise, reducing the temptation to increase volume.
- Monitor exposure to various loud noises, including machinery and traffic.
- Schedule periodic hearing tests to track your hearing health and catch issues early.
Early Signs of Hearing Loss
Know the signs of hearing loss. Watch our video to learn more.
FIND A PHYSICIAN
To find a physician, visit CentraState Medical Center’s online Physician Finder.
