Do you find yourself frequently donning earphones and immersing in music for hours on end? After all, the day’s rhythm is often enhanced by auditory accompaniment, fostering a sense of well-being.
Consequently, many individuals become increasingly fixated, maintaining their musical indulgence throughout the day.
However, there lies a significant caveat: extended and high-volume usage can severely compromise your hearing.
To delve into the potential repercussions of prolonged earphone use, HT Lifestyle consulted Dr. Jyotirmay S. Hegde, Head of ENT and lead consultant at Aster Whitefield Hospital. He implored vigilance regarding earphone usage, specifically concerning both duration and auditory volume.
Though Dr. Hegde acknowledged the utility of earphones in enhancing focus, he cautioned that both medical and audiological research underscore inherent dangers linked to high-volume or prolonged usage.
Adverse Health Consequences of Extended Earphone Use
Dr. Hegde elucidated various ways in which excessive earphone use can detrimentally affect auditory health, with outcomes ranging from temporary ear fatigue and tinnitus-like ringing to more significant, enduring auditory damage.
1. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
NIHL stands as one of the most prevalent consequences of excessive sound exposure. Dr. Hegde indicated that prolonged listening at volumes exceeding 85 dB significantly escalates the risk of irreversible auditory harm, essentially leading to permanent nerve injury within the inner ear.
2. Tinnitus
Tinnitus manifests as a persistent ringing, buzzing, or phantom sound within the ears. This condition correlates closely with sustained high-volume earphone use.
3. Auditory Fatigue
Dr. Hegde described auditory fatigue as a specific type of exhaustion experienced after excessive headphone use. He observed, “It becomes challenging to follow sounds, maintain concentration, or decipher speech following extensive auditory exposure.” Although it lacks formal medical classification, it remains a tangible consequence of continuous sound stimulation.
4. Diminished Situational Awareness
Noise-cancelling headphones, while advantageous, alter sound processing, potentially impairing environmental awareness. Dr. Hegde cautioned that “constant headphone use may reshape how the brain interprets everyday sounds, even in cases where auditory evaluations yield normal results.”
5. Cognitive Strain Over Time
Extended earphone usage, exceeding two hours per day, can adversely impact cognitive faculties, including attention and memory. Dr. Hegde elucidated that this detriment results from ongoing auditory overload.
Choosing the Right Equipment
Over-the-ear headphones are advantageous as they do not sit directly within the ear canal, unlike earbuds.
Selecting the appropriate headphones can substantially influence your auditory health. Dr. Hegde identified over-ear models as preferable compared to conventional earbuds, which tend to place undue proximity to the ear canal.
Source link: Hindustantimes.com.
