The louder the sound, the more damaging it is to hearing. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that people be exposed to no more than 85 decibels (dBA) of noise for eight hours a day. This is about as loud as a city street. However, even short exposures to louder noises can be damaging. For example, a person can damage their hearing if they listen to music at 100 dBA for even just 15 minutes.
Headphones and earbuds are capable of delivering high volumes of sound; especially if the listener is cranking up the volume to try to block out background noises. Listening at levels above 85 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss within as few as 15 minutes.
Listening to music for only an hour a day at safe levels is not going to cause any long term problems, but repeated exposure over a long time at high volumes can certainly take a toll.
What are the symptoms of hearing damage?
The most common symptom of hearing damage is tinnitus, a ringing, buzzing, or humming sound in the ears. Other symptoms of hearing damage include:
- Difficulty understanding speech
- Muffled hearing
- Problems hearing high-pitched sounds
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear
How can I prevent hearing damage?
There are a number of things you can do to prevent hearing damage, including:
- Keep the volume down. The louder the sound, the more damaging it is to hearing. So keep the volume down, both on your headphones and in other settings.
- Use hearing protection. If you're going to be exposed to loud noise, wear hearing protection. This includes earplugs, earmuffs, or noise-canceling headphones.
- Give your ears a break. Avoid prolonged exposure to loud noise. If you have to be in a noisy environment, take breaks throughout the day to give your ears a chance to rest.
- See a doctor if you have symptoms. If you're experiencing any symptoms of hearing damage, see a doctor right away. They can diagnose the problem and recommend treatment.