5 ways to prevent hearing loss caused by headphones

Whether it originates from sources like live concerts or your surround sound systems, any too-loud sound might be harmful. But headphones are a more frequent cause of hearing loss. Nowadays, headphones are commonplace and constantly emit music from our smartphones, computers, gaming systems, and tablets. Even children use them to access online courses, and we adults wear them when participating in online meetings.

So, how can we stop the harm that headphones can do if we can't stop using them because of how essential they have become to our lives? Even if you use headphones all day, every day, adopting the few basic actions outlined below can significantly lessen any potential harm to your hearing.

1. Use the right type of headphones

The sizes and forms of headphones are varied. The word encompasses all types of headphones, from small wireless earbuds to enormous over-the-ear models that resemble speakers attached to your head. While all of them have the potential to disrupt hearing, how quickly they might cause long-lasting damage depends on variances in design.

Because most earbuds are intended to form a seal when put into the ear canal, they are among the worst offenders. The bass that these little gadgets create is amplified by those tiny silicone and foam tips. But because they block out all of those soundwaves, they also significantly raise the pressure that sound exerts on your eardrums and the delicate inner ear tissue.

Use open-backed headphones in their place.By allowing sound waves to dissipate elsewhere, this sort of headphone permits unobstructed airflow into and out of the earcups, decreasing the strain placed on your ears.

2. Don't use louder volume to drown out ambient noise

Everyone has experienced loud public transportation, an unpleasant employee, or a dog that is attempting to be the mailman's boss. In order to block out those distractions with even more sound, we frequently go for headphones. This implies that you are introducing extra noise to an environment that is already dangerously noisy. Your hearing will still be harmed even when the new noise is in the shape of your favorite song.

In situations like this, it's much better to use one of two things: active noise canceling (ANC) headphones or simple earplugs.

By generating opposing waves that meet in the center, ANC headphones reduce incoming sound waves, weakening or eliminating them before they reach your ears. Larger headphones and earbuds with ANC technology can use this technique to muffle sound without completely obstructing the outside air. The ANC function of a set of headphones can be used even if you don't feel like listening to music or a podcast in order to significantly lessen any harm that loud ambient noise would otherwise cause. Use regular foam earplugs if all you want is some silence and you want to save money.

3. Use good quality, clear headphones

It's likely that many of you read this advice and thought, "They're so expensive!" That said, high-quality audio doesn't always have to be expensive.There are excellent, affordable solutions that deliver crystal-clear sound. This is crucial because if the music is clear at a low volume, we're less likely to turn it up to harmful levels.

Too many contemporary headphones are built to deliver loud, excessively bass-heavy audio. Instead, select a duo that places an emphasis on vocal and instrumental clarity. You'll be able to listen at lower volumes while still enjoying the same degree of audio richness, which will make you appreciate your music and audio more.

4. Take a break

The majority of hearing preservation resources will advise you to take breaks from auditory assaults so your ears can rest. While it is unquestionably true, most advice overlooks volume creep, which is another reason to take a vacation.

We are more inclined to gradually and unconsciously increase the level the longer we watch or listen to music. Perhaps there was a brief period of silence, a song with an unusually low volume started playing, or there was an outside noise that was distracting. Regardless of the source, we frequently progressively increase the volume to make up for it and then leave it there.

We frequently judge the quality of softer sounds as poorer when exposed to larger volumes. However, if you only take a little, calm pause, that same lowered volume will sound perfectly wonderful. We can tell when we've let loudness creep in to get us to harmful levels of sound after a break because it allows our perception and physical anatomy to reset.

5. Use software or hardware to limit your volume

The maximum volume of practically every electronic device can be limited in a variety of ways; however, the specifics depend on the device's kind and, if any, operating system.

For instance, Windows doesn't provide a nice way to control loudness, regardless of the current version you're running. To complete the task, we advise installing a free program from a third party. Some excellent choices include Quiet on the Set and Sound Lock, both of which offer a straightforward volume restriction control in your taskbar. Both are compatible with any connected audio output device, including speakers and headphones.