Listen Up, Expose the Volume Danger: Five Shocking Ways Your Ear Buds Might be Stealing Your Hearing

On a daily commute, working out in the gym, or simply tuning out noise around, we often resort to blast our earbuds without realizing the potential harm. This part is focused on the dangers of high-decibel music on our hearing abilities. Research has shown that long-term exposure to noise above 85 decibels can cause significant damage to our hearing. Earbuds often output volume as high as 110 decibels, which is comparable to a rock concert!

The loudness not only tantalizes the delicate inner ear linings but also leads to a possible permanent hearing loss. When the sensory cell damage occurs within our inner ear due to elevated sounds, it cannot be regenerated. This gradually leads to the loss of hearing. It’s a bit like toppling dominoes where one can create a cascade that impacts many.

The risk is amplified especially for those who feel the need to increase the volume to drown out surrounding noise. The World Health Organization reports an estimated 1.1 billion young people worldwide could be at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices.

Duration Dangers: A Case of “Too Long, Too Loud

Now that we understand the intensity of the volume, let's see what role duration plays. Our exposure time to loud noise plays a significant role in our hearing health. Acute, continuous exposure to loud music for extended periods can cause immediate deterioration to our inner ear cells. The length of time you listen at high volume to music on your earbuds can impact your hearing more than you might think.

Experts suggest that we follow the 60/60 rule: only use devices at no more than 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes a day. Moreover, it’s a good practice to give our ears a break every now and then, allowing it to recover from the high-volume exposure.