For many, the music we listen to defines who we are. Music is often seen as an integral part of our self-identity, and what we listen to when we were young, continues to define us later in life. Furthermore, the music we love helps us connect us to culture and political movement. Many of us listen to music on headphones, to help motivate us when working out, riding public transit or just trying to relax without bothering others – however it’s important to listen safely. Most of listen for hours at a time, but what many of us don’t realize is that headphones have the potential to deliver sound to our ears at levels loud enough to damage our ears in 15 minutes or less!

Noise induced hearing loss and headphones

When sound reaches past a safe threshold the vibrations become loud enough to cause damage to the tiny cells which deliver sound from our ears to our brain. What is this threshold and how long does it take? Well, the volume or loudness of sound is measured in decibels. When decibels pass 85 dBA damage starts to occur, but it’s not just the level of decibel but the length of exposure. At 85 dBA, damage starts to occur after 8 hours of constant exposure, making work environments where the shifts are typically 8 hours or more a common place for hearing damage. However, as the decibels rise the time it takes for damage to occur quickly gets smaller. At 95 dBA it takes under an hour for damge to occur and at 100 dBA it can take around 15 minuets.

The serious nature of hearing Loss

Hearing loss is commonly underestimated in it health impact. What starts often subtly as minor misunderstandings, if unchecked, can progress into rifts in relationships at home and at work, causing loss of self-esteem, chronic depression, and loneliness. Unchecked, hearing loss can contribute to cognitive decline and increase the risk of falls and accidents due to lack of awareness in a person’s space. Hearing loss caused by noise is a permanent condition, so what can we do to modify our headphone use to keep our ears safe? Well fortunately there are plenty of options now on the market.

Everyone should be concerned about listening to headphones safely as hearing loss due to noise can happen to anyone at any age. Here are a few important tips to ensure you are listening safely.

Turn down the volume

Music sounds so good loud to many of us, especially when we are young. When our favorite song comes on, we often turn it up as if it can help us feel it more intensely and so the whole world can know the feeling your feeling inside. However, listening to music too loudly for too long can have lasting effects for your hearing.

Try turning down the volume. The ideal listening level is no higher than 60% of the available volume. It’s okay to turn up the volume for a song or two, but for the long time you listen, a moderate level will ensure your hearing will stay unharmed.

Use noise-canceling headphones

One of the best things about headphones is that they help you block out the world around you when you just aren’t trying to take it all in. Many listen to music or listen to podcasts to cancel out the noise of public transportation or a busy café while they work. However, blocking out the noise means that you may be cranking the volume of your headphones up to damaging levels.

Try investing in a pair of noise canceling headphones. These headphones actively detect the ambient sound around you and create an inverted soundwave which cancels out background noise. This allows you to listen to media at a much safer level, and protect your ears for the future.

Take listening breaks

Most of us listen to music, podcasts, or movies for hours on end and thanks to a seemingly endless supply of streaming sources, there is no end to what we can access. However, taking listening breaks can have a huge impact on our ears health. The longer you listen to loud media, the more you risk damaging your ears. Try taking a 5-minute break every 30 minutes or a 10-minute break every 60 minutes.