A significant number of adults in the United States experience hearing loss to a certain extent. But this is not a problem that’s exclusive to adults. Anyone can suffer from hearing loss, especially if they are constantly exposed to loud noise, typically the case for people who use headphones.
That does mean you should stop using headphones? Not at all. What you need to do is to follow these safety tips from the best hearing clinic in Massachusetts on how to preserve your hearing when you’re using headphones regularly:
Dangers of Headphones
You must know how people might suffer from hearing loss when using headphones for long periods of time. This can happen in two ways. First, there is the temporary hearing loss, which can last for a few hours or days. Secondly, there is permanent hearing loss, which is much more severe but fortunately rare.
How to Use Headphones Safely
If you want to make sure that you don’t suffer from hearing loss, you should follow the following safety tips when using headphones:
Lower the Volume to Safe Levels
Hearing damage can occur when you’re listening to music that’s too loud. Keep the volume at what is considered a safe level, around 60 percent of your device’s maximum volume. This can help protect your ears from damage.
Opt for Noise-Canceling Headphones
Noise-canceling headphones, or earbuds, have been proven to be highly effective in reducing noise pollution. While it might be tempting to increase the volume to hear better in a noisy environment, this habit can cause serious damage to your ears.
Earplugs and earmuffs can effectively reduce the noise that reaches your ears. However, noise-canceling headphones are even more beneficial for protecting your hearing, as they can block out the noise generated inside the headphones.
Go for Headphones Instead of Earbuds
Earplugs and earmuffs can effectively reduce the noise that reaches your ears. However, noise-canceling headphones are even more beneficial for protecting your hearing, as they can block out the noise generated inside the headphones.
Follow the 60/60 Rule
According to research, the safe listening time is 60 minutes at 60 percent volume. If you want to prevent any hearing damage, stop using your headphones after this duration.
Use High-Quality Headphones
The quality of the headphones can significantly affect how long you can use them before you suffer from hearing damage. You should also keep in mind that if you use headphones for a long time, such as for eight hours or more, you should buy a specifically designed pair for long-term use.
Conclusion
Hearing loss can be a serious issue, especially if you’re regularly exposed to dangerous sound levels. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy your favorite music. As long as you follow these tips, you shouldn’t experience any hearing damage, even if you use headphones for long periods. Of course, if you are already experiencing problems, you should seek effective hearing solutions from a professional.
Hear More Associates is the best hearing clinic in Massachusetts that can address your concerns with your hearing and perform tests if needed. Schedule your appointment with us today!