How to maintain your hearing health？

Your hearing health depends heavily on the listening equipment you wear in or around your ears, or "ear gear." What could possibly go wrong with so much noise in your ears?

Noise-induced Hearing Loss

Loud sounds that harm the inner ear produce noise-induced hearing loss. Long-term exposure to music played at decibel levels greater than 85 dB will result in irreversible hearing damage. Employees are allowed to listen to 85 dB for a continuous eight hours, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the amount of time that is deemed "safe" is cut in half for every three dB beyond that level.That means you’re only recommended to listen at 88 dB for four hours, at 91 dB for two hours, at 94 dB for one hour, at 97 dB for 30 minutes, and so on.

Five Tips for Preserving Your Hearing

Turn it down—Set your volume limit on your device so you’re listening at no louder than 70 percent of the possible volume.

Turn it off—Long-term exposure to loud noises causes damage to the ears. The 60/60 rule can be used: listen at 60 percent volume for 60 minutes, then take a break for at least 30 minutes to give your ears a chance to rest and heal.

Choose over-the-ear headphones over earbuds—Earbuds can be up to nine dB louder than over-the-ear headphones.

Choose noise-cancelling headphones—This is crucial if you enjoy using your device(s) in loud settings, such as congested city streets. To drown out the sounds around you, you'll unknowingly increase the volume in your headphones.

It's all about that bass—Use the equalization on your smartphone to boost the bass if you enjoy music's "head-banging" sensation and deep vibration. You'll still experience the pleasant sensation even if you lower the volume.

Earbuds and Ear Infections

Wax and bacteria are present in ear canals. That won't cause any issues unless it gets infected. Earbuds cause moisture to build up in the ear canal, which is worse if you've just finished a hot, sweaty workout. Studies have shown that earbuds can lead to an 11-fold increase in the number of germs in the ear canal. Germs and fungus prefer wet, warm, dark locations like the ear canal.Sharing earbuds might expose you to more germs or fungus, so avoid doing so at all costs. When you put your earphones back in, the germs they picked up while being stored in your purse or pocket might potentially be transferred to your ear canal.And those fresh germs or bacteria may cause a dangerous illness if you have a scrape or cut in your ear.Clean your earphones once a week, especially if you've shared them with someone else or after working up a sweat. Remove any wax or debris by wiping it off with a cotton ball that has been lightly wet (not soaked) with rubbing alcohol. Your earphones should be kept in a dry, clean case rather than loose in your backpack.

How to Avoid Outer Ear Pain from Headphones

The pinna, the outside portion of your ear, can suffer pressure injuries if headphones are worn over or around it. Under headphones, bending or compressing the delicate pinna cartilage can be painful and put you in danger of inflicting a skin abrasion that can become infectious.You can also induce chondritis, a kind of inflammation of the cartilage that can be challenging to cure. Even worse, you can have a permanent deformity.So make sure your headphones are comfortable but not too tight. Pain is a crucial signal that lets you know when something is amiss. If your headphones ache, loosen them up or switch to a different style.

Maximize Your Safety with Ear Gear

It's nice to immerse yourself in your favorite music, a fantastic podcast, or an audiobook, but it might not be worth risking one of your most vital senses—hearing—while you travel the world.According to research, two-thirds of cyclists who use earphones while riding are unable to hear sirens, car horns, or cars zooming by in traffic.The study did discover that a cyclist's auditory perception was unaffected by single-earbud music listening or by keeping one ear free of any distracting sounds.Therefore, refrain from using headphones or earphones when riding a bike or driving. Take in your surroundings. However, if you must, just use one pair of headphones or earbuds at a time. Alternatively, you may get a bone conduction headset that rests behind your ears and allows you to listen to music while remaining aware of everything around you.