What is the Right Way to Use Earbuds?

You wear a set of small speakers inside your ears called earbuds. They're helpful, tiny gadgets at low levels. However, playing loud music so close to your eardrums might permanently damage your hearing.

How Does Noise Cause Hearing Loss?

The outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear are the three components of the ear that work together to process sounds. Tiny hair cells are found in the cochlea, which is a section of the inner ear. These hair cells aid in the brain's reception of sound signals. The hair cells might be harmed by loud noise. When this occurs, the cochlea is unable to communicate sound information to the brain.

Injury to the inner ear does not recover like injury to other bodily parts.Over time, as more and more hair cells get damaged, your hearing will get worse and worse.

What Are Signs of Hearing Problems?

Using earphones can cause hearing loss due to noise; however, it typically takes time. Therefore, a lot of people don't realize they have a problem until it is too late. Hearing loss symptoms include ringing, buzzing, roaring, or muffled sounds after hearing a loud noise.

Call your doctor if you suspect you may be experiencing hearing loss. Your doctor could evaluate you and refer you to an audiologist, who is qualified to do hearing tests. The audiologist can also address your concerns regarding the use of headphones and hearing protection.

What's the Right Way to Use Earbuds?

If you don't use your earphones for too long or too loudly, noise-induced hearing loss caused by them is completely avoidable.The 60%/60-minute guideline is advised by physicians:Play video games, watch movies, or listen to music at no more than 60% of the maximum volume. You should only wear earphones for no more than 60 minutes at a time.

Another technique to check if the volume on your earphones is safe is as follows: See whether anyone sitting close by can hear your music. If they can, it means your hearing is deteriorating. Reduce the volume so that no one else can hear it.

Are There Other Options?

You might think that a little set of earphones is included with every phone or music player. After all, they are simple to use and inexpensive to produce. What can you then do?

Headphones typically have their own departments at electronics retailers.The finest headphones are noise-canceling models that help muffle outside sounds. You won't need to play your music as loudly to hear it clearly this way. Noise-canceling headphones can also help you concentrate when doing your schoolwork or studying, but they're not the best option if you need to hear what's going on outside.

If you use over-the-ear headphones for an extended period of time or listen to loud music, you might end up damaging your hearing. They simply pose less of a risk than earphones do. The level of a sound can be increased by 6 to 9 decibels when the source is in your ear canal, which can result in some major issues.

Earbuds exist because so many of us love music. So protect your hearing so you can continue to appreciate music.