Love Your Music? Listen Safely with Earbuds and Headphones

Music is all around us. It plays in our cars, in most restaurants we go, and even at our jobs. Music is also medicine, acting as a natural aid for the human body. Music can help lower stress hormones, distract the brain from thoughts of physical pain, and even train the brain to shift focus from undesirable sounds.  

But as with any treatment, the dose is important. Dr. Frank Wartinger, graduate of the Osborne Audiology (now at Drexel University), noted that “much like the risk of skin damage from sun exposure, the risk of hearing injuries increases with higher intensity sound and longer duration listening.”   

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), long durations of loud music can cause damage to the delicate hair cells in the inner ear, which can lead to permanent hearing loss.  

Symptoms of hearing loss may not be very clear at first; many people are unaware their hearing sensitivity has been affected until the damage is already done.  

One well-known symptom of hearing loss from loud noises is tinnitus. In simple terms, tinnitus is a sound in your ears that can be described as roars, clicks, and buzzes. Other signs of hearing loss include difficulty hearing someone from a short distance or trouble following conversations in a noisy environment.  

Thankfully, noise-induced hearing loss is preventable. Some strategies include using hearing protection when working in a loud environment and using headphones at no more than 60 percent of the available volume. If you do choose to have your volume at a high level, minimize the duration of listening.  

Everyone benefits from good hearing. Spread awareness by emphasizing to those around you the importance of noise safety. By doing this, you are joining a community that holds hearing health to great value.  

If you or anyone that you know is experiencing symptoms of hearing loss, reach out to the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI) today at 215.780.3180.