It’s common to see youths or young children with headphones or ear buds listening to their favourite songs. Sometimes the volume is very loud that they hardly hear the noise around the environment or if someone calls them. No matter how much you enjoy listening to that your favourite song or podcast at that high volume, it’s not good for your hearing.
According to recent analysis, high levels of noise can affect hearing loss in the future. The group that face the most risks are children, teens and young adults as a result of headphones or ear buds for a long time during the day at very high volumes. According to the National Institutes of Health, the recommended limit is 70 decibels per day.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 50 percent of people ages 12 to 35 are at risk of hearing loss due to prolonged and excessive exposure to loud sounds, such as music heard through personal audio devices.
Contrary to what many people believe, medical experts say that hearing loss is not part of the aging process. If you protect your ears by avoiding exposure to high volumes, you should be able to hear well into old age.
Apart from exposure to loud noise for a long period of time, Mary L. Carson, Au.D, licensed clinical audiologist, said research also shows that individuals with untreated hearing loss, over time, are at a higher risk for dementia. She added that there are some promising studies that show that treating hearing loss with hearing aids reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
You can protect your ears by reducing the volume of your audio device to the recommended level. Ensure that you can hear what is going on around you with your headphones or ear buds in your ears. Wear earmuffs or foam plugs to protect your ears. It’s vital to go for ear check up on a yearly basis. Properly and promptly treat any ear infections.