Almost all college students on campus can be seen with earbuds in their ears while walking to class. Listening to your personal device can beat the monotony of a long walk or help provide some background noise in a quiet library, but at what cost? According to the Journal of Pediatrics, 1 in 5 teens have some level of hearing loss.
Hearing loss from devices such as iPods is gradual, and you won’t realize the effects until it’s too late.
Here’s some info on things you can do to prevent hearing damage:
1. Lower Your Volume
Researchers recommend not going over a max of 70% volume level when listening to music for an extended period of time. Anything higher is entering risky territory. If the person next to you can hear the music through your earphones, it’s definitely too loud.
2. Rest Between Listening
Don’t listen for hours at a time. Every hour or so, take your earphones/headphones out and give your ears a break. Ears that get a break are less likely to be damaged.
3. Use the 60/60 Rule
Listen to your device at only 60% of the maximum volume for 60 minutes, and then take a break. A good way to make sure you follow this rule is to set a 60% volume restriction through your device’s setting, that way you’re not tempted to break it.
4. Headphones > Earbuds
Headphones that sit over the ear present less of a threat to hearing than earbuds. Headphones deliver audio that is about 9 decibels less than that of earbuds, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but when the volume is turned up past 70%, it can prevent serious damage.
5. Don’t Max It
It may be tempting to turn up the volume when you’re in a noisy area or doing a workout, but the effects from doing this for long periods are incredibly damaging. Researchers recommend that if you want to listen at a max volume, do so for only 5 minutes.
6. Use Noise Cancelling Devices
To help with outside interferences with your listening, get noise cancelling headphones. This way, you can keep your volume at lower levels, which allow you to listen for longer periods of time.
You don’t have to give up the fun of listening to your own music at your own time, but don’t sacrifice your ears for it.
Kanakam is a member of the class of 2017.
