James is a music aficionado who has mastered the art of integrating his favored music into his daily life, easily shifting from Spotify at his workdesk to Pandora on his runs, and meticulously putting together playlists to perfectly complement every activity, whether he’s working out, whipping up a meal, or immersed in a gaming session. His headphones are his continual companions, converting his life into a completely soundtracked experience. However, while James finds relaxaction and joy in the immersive world of music, the very thing he loves could be silently weakening his precious sense of hearing.

Regarding our ears, there are both safe and unsafe ways to indulge in music. Regrettably, many of us tend to incline towards the latter.

What is the link between prolonged exposure to music and hearing loss?

Prolonged exposure to loud sounds can lead to a decrease in your auditory ability. Hearing loss is typically connected to growing older, but the latest studies suggest that it is mostly triggered by damage from exposure to loud noises rather than being a natural part of aging.

It also appears that younger ears are especially susceptible to noise-related damage (they’re still forming, after all). And yet, young adults are more likely to be dismissive of the permanent dangers of high volume. An increasing amount of young individuals are experiencing hearing loss due to frequent use of loud headphones.

Can one listen to music without any safety concerns?

Unregulated max volume is obviously the” hazardous” way to listen to music. But there is a safe(er) way to enjoy your music, and it typically involves turning the volume down. The general guidelines for safe volumes are:

• For Adults: No more than 40 hours of listening on a device, and keep the volume lower than 80 dB.
• For Teens and Minors: You can still listen for 40 hours, but keep the volume level below 75 dB.

Breaking it down, you’re looking at about 5 hours and 40 minutes of listening each day. Though it might seem excessive, the time can pass unexpectedly fast. Even still, most people have a fairly solid concept of monitoring time– it’s something we’re trained to do successfully from a really young age.

The more challenging facet involves keeping track of your sound level. Devices like smartphones, computers, and TVs typically do not show volume in decibels. Its value is determined utilizing a somewhat subjective or relative scale. The range could be as broad as 1 to 100, or it could be as small as 1 to 16. You might be unaware of the maximum volume capacity of your device or how close you are to reaching that limit.

Tips for efficiently keeping track of your music volume

Numerous free noise monitoring apps can be found for both iPhone and Android devices to tackle this problem. These apps supply real-time insights into ambient noise levels, empowering users to calibrate their music volume accordingly.

For this reason, many audiologists suggest using one of the numerous noise level tracking apps available at no cost. These apps– widely available for both iPhone and Android devices– will give you real-time readouts on the noises around you. In this way, you can keep track of the decibel level of your music as it plays and make changes accordingly.

A volume comparison: garbage disposals and beyond

For instance, a volume level of 80 decibels is similar to the sound generated by a basic garbage disposal or dishwasher – you can hear them, but they won’t blow your ears out. Acknowledging this standard is crucial, as it represents the limit beyond which hearing damage becomes a substantial danger.

It’s crucial to exercise heightened caution when noise levels surpass this critical point. Think about reducing your exposure to extremely loud music by listening to certain songs at the highest volume instead of listening to entire albums.

Repeated exposure to elevated volume levels can result in hearing problems such as tinnitus and eventual hearing loss. By being aware of when our ears are at risk, we allow ourselves to make informed decisions in order to promote safer listening habits.

Schedule a hearing exam

To further prioritize your hearing health, think about reaching out to a hearing specialist to set up a comprehensive hearing test. Practical steps like regular assessments can identify any possible problems early on, enabling timely interventions and personalized recommendations to protect your precious sense of hearing.