In today’s world, technology is both necessary and necessary. Earphones or headphones are a great example of this. Be it a morning walk, a ride in the subway, a bus ride, a session in a café or a call in the office, people are seen wearing earphones everywhere. This may not be a problem for others, but persistent and careless use can seriously affect your hearing. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately one billion young people worldwide are at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening habits.
The biggest concern is the volume and usage time. Earphones transmit loud sounds directly to the ears over a very short distance. Listening to loud music continuously or wearing earphones for a long time, both are dangerous. Additionally, earphones are often placed in different places, which leads to the accumulation of bacteria. Sharing these further increases the risk of infection.
What is the problem?
According to a report by Manipal Hospitals, when we hear loud sounds, the sound waves vibrate the eardrum. These vibrations reach the cochlea inside the ear, which contains thousands of tiny hair cells. Loud noise puts a lot of pressure on these cells. If this happens repeatedly, these cells may lose their sensitivity or become permanently damaged. In this condition, the ability to hear is reduced due to noise.
Many people start hearing a ringing sound in the ears, which is called tinnitus. In some cases, even normal sounds become unbearable, a condition called hyperacusis. Prolonged exposure to loud noises can cause dizziness, ear pain, excessive earwax accumulation and frequent infections.
What should be done to avoid this?
Health experts recommend keeping the volume moderate and avoiding listening for long periods of time. Noise-canceling or over-the-ear headphones may be a better option because they reduce external noise, eliminating the need to turn up the volume. Regular cleaning of earphones is also important. Avoid wearing earphones in already noisy places such as travelling, as this increases the overall decibel level. A little precaution can save your ears from permanent damage.