5 tips to prevent hearing loss while using headphones

Both earbuds and headphones can harm your hearing, but you can lower your risk of hearing loss. You are aware that listening to loud music might harm your ears, but how loud can the music go before it puts your hearing at risk?

It turns out that the same thing you turn to headphones for—sound—may be the thing that keeps you from listening in the future. A set of headphones and a solid playlist might serve as the ultimate focus tool for a simple pleasure. There has always been a danger of noise-induced hearing loss in some occupations, such as the military and construction.These days, an increasing number of young individuals are displaying symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss, and about one in four US adults is affected.

Constant exposure to loud noises causes hearing loss in many people. Public health professionals are increasingly worried about headphones as a major factor in addition to loud jobs, concerts, and athletic events. You may still enjoy your favorite headphones while listening to music as long as you follow basic safety measures to protect your hearing.

You may try out a few very straightforward strategies to lower your chance of headphones harming you if you're worried about hearing loss.

1. Turn down the volume

It really is as simple as turning down the volume on your earphones or headphones. But don't stop there. Attempt to minimize the loudness of other sources as well, such as the television you watch at home. Additionally, make sure your headphones don't have a separate volume control if you feel like you can't turn the noise down low enough.

2. Use noise-canceling headphones

If you're like most people, you use headphones to block out outside noise and raise the volume when the noise level increases. Consider using noise-canceling headphones to reduce that constant loudness. You might consider passive noise-canceling headphones, which primarily function by limiting outside noises using designs like high-density foam earplugs that isolate your ear from outside noise.

Try active noise-canceling headphones as well; these headphones operate by continuously detecting the sounds around you and producing sound waves that directly block the outside noise.

3. Wear actual headphones, not earbuds

Although the phrases headphones and earbuds are frequently used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. The term "earbuds" describes the little, mostly silicone or hard plastic accessories that fit comfortably in your ears. The term "headphones," on the other hand, describes a type of equipment that rests over your ears, typically enclosing the entire ear. Even if the distance between the sound and the eardrum is small while using headphones or earbuds, it's important in the long term.

4. Take listening breaks

If you are unable to do any of the aforementioned, taking pauses from your headphones can help you avoid hearing loss brought on by headphones.Your risk of hearing loss increases the longer you listen to loud music. Consider taking a five- or ten-minute break every thirty or sixty minutes.Your risk of hearing loss increases the longer you listen to loud music. Consider taking a five- or ten-minute break every thirty or sixty minutes.Use the 60/60 rule to be extra safe. After listening for 60 minutes at 60% of your device's maximum volume, take a break.

5. Set a volume limit.

You may set a custom volume restriction in the settings of some devices. If you want to know if you can set a volume restriction, check your device's settings or user guide.