Turning up our music to a higher volume is a risky habit. You like the song; you turn it up to enjoy! However, there are risks attached that you may be unaware of.
How Loud Music Affects Hearing
When a person listens to loud music for a significant amount of time, they run the risk of damaging their hearing! Loud sounds are responsible for damaging sensitive hair cells within the inner ear.
These hair cells are used by the brain to interpret sound. If the hairs are repeatedly exposed to loud noise, they may be permanently damaged resulting in loss of hearing. Listening to loud music can also cause temporary tinnitus, causing ringing, humming, buzzing or a whistling sound in the ears or head. This condition can become permanent in extreme cases.
People With Robust Ears
Research suggests that some people are affected less by lengthy exposure to loud music as they are born with tougher ears. Listening to loud music through headphones is also said to significantly affect the likelihood of hearing damage as it is intensified.
The problem is set to worsen with the introduction of MP3 players; battery life lasts for up to 20 hours compared to old school walkmans, which ran off AA batteries lasting for just a few hours.
Research Especially for Headphone Lovers
Research into headphones had found that an individual can listen to music through their headphones at 70% volume for 4.6 hours a day without causing any lasting damage to their hearing when the volume is increased to 100% as little as for 5 minutes, exposure can damage hearing, an alarming statistic.
Teenagers are likely to listen to music louder than young adults do, and boys are worse for cranking up the volume compared to girls! It is likely to be a number of years until we can evaluate the full extent of the effects of new music technology on our hearing.
[expand title = “References”]
Researchers Recommend Safe Listening Levels for Apple iPod. URL link. Accesed Novermber 4, 2017.
[/expand]
