HEADPHONES SAFELY: LISTEN TO MUSIC AND MAKE PHONE CALLS SAFELY
Our society is inseparable from technology. This also includes the headphones that enable people to enjoy music and have conversations anywhere. They have been a saving grace during virtual meetings and teaching, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the usefulness and convenience of headphones is clear, many questions arise regarding safety of use. You can use headphones healthily or unhealthyly. This article will help you avoid health problems.
VOLUME AND OUR EARS
Sound is an important means of communication. However, the inner ear is very sensitive to volume. There are thousands of cells in the ears. Some of these are hair-like structures called hair cells, which are responsible for transmitting sound from the ears back to the brain where it is further processed. The loud sound can permanently damage these cells. Damage can also occur via the connection between hair cells and nerve cells. Surgery and medication cannot revive the hair cells.
How loud?
One of the most important things to remember when using headphones is that personal hearing aids are set to a maximum volume of around 105 to 110 decibels (dB). This number may look slightly different from study to study. It is important that you as a listener are aware that most devices can actually be used in harmful ways. However, since a measuring device for measuring volume is rarely available at home, various tools can help, which are like winnings .
How long?
In addition to volume, the duration of sound exposure is an important factor that contributes to possible hearing damage. Simply put, louder noises can cause more damage with less exposure. For example, in workplaces it is recommended to offer employees an average exposure of 85 dB for more than eight hours. While that may sound like a long time, using headphones at even slightly higher volumes can cause damage in less than an hour, and it’s easy to imagine listening to music with headphones for an hour or more.
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS
Here are some suggestions for avoiding the health problems:
Pay attention to how long you listened and how loud the sound is.
If you feel like your ears are tired, give them a break.
If you are attending an event where loud noise is likely to be heard for a long time, such as a concert or sporting event, use headphones with noise-cancelling properties.
Invest in the good headphones. Cheap headphones can actually emit harmful electromagnetic fields, so it’s worth spending a little more for a high-quality product.
Finally, care for your headphones regularly. Dirt can build up on the earbuds and cause problems such as rashes or infections. Clean them with a soft cloth after each use.
If you have any problems, contact your doctor.
By following these simple tips, you can enjoy your headphones without putting your health at risk. Wearing headphones all the time, whether in the home office or on the go, will not cause any harm if the volume is OK.