Here are some suggestions for
listening to music safely.
Too much loud music can cause permanent hearing loss and tinnitus.
These simple tips if adhered to, can protect your ears, enabling you to enjoy music for years to come.
Remember, from what we have seen before, that the risk of hearing damage from loud music depends on how loud it is and how long you’re exposed to it for.
Therefore you should be able to appreciate that the louder the music, the shorter the time you should listen to it.
If the music feels uncomfortable, it’s definitely too loud!
Some people are more susceptible to noise-induced hearing damage than others.
Unfortunately, it is only possible to know that you are susceptible to hearing damage once the damage is done.
It's hard to quantify a safe set level because the output of every player is different., and our judgement of volume levels will vary greatly.
'Here is a good rule of thumb, which is often referred to as
the 60/60 rule.
You should
only listen to music at 60 per cent volume, and you shouldn't listen for more that 60 minutes in one sitting.
Types of HeadphonesThe standard MP3 headphones don't seal the ear and, therefore, let in extraneous noise from outside, often prompting people to turn up their player volume.
There are three types of headphone that can help reduce the damage:
The old fashioned ones that sit right over the ear – look out for ones with decent cushioning.
The ones with electronic limiters that actively cancel out noise.
The 'bud' type earphones that have a custom sleeve and sit right in the ear, sealing against outside noise.
High quality earphones are a good investment, because they will block more of the environmental noise, allowing the user to reduce the volume and still hear the music comfortably.
When listening through headphonesWe are currently a gadget generation, so iPhones and the like are regularly used, especially by younger folk, to listen to their favourite podcasts. (I am impressed that I have used that word: I am trying to impress my grandchildren!)
Get advice on the dangers of MP3s, iPhones, iPods etc., and what you can do to keep your ears safe.
Today many could be doing their hearing a great deal of harm.
According to a new report by the Hear the World initiative, Britons are only second to the USA when it comes to music player use, with 16 per cent of them listening to their MP3 players on a daily basis, and 9 per cent cranking up the volume to maximum.
In our busy and often noisy lives, plugging in your headphones can be a great way to escape, which can pose a danger.
But more than ever before, we're listening to music at a high volume, often just to drown out the excessive noise around us.
The Hear the World report surveyed 4,400 people around the world (including the UK) aged 14 to 65 and revealed that 85 per cent played their MP3 player at more than 50 per cent of total volume. Now the real problem is that MP3 players have the ability to blast 104 decibels (dB) straight into the ears, which is equivalent to standing next to a pneumatic drill (110dB). In fact, any level above 90dB can cause long-term damage to hearing.
In fact, around a quarter of people in the UK between the ages of 18 to 24 have been found to listen to music at maximum volume – which is a real concern.
Teenagers are now experiencing the same hearing damage as their parents' generation but at a much younger age.
There is a danger for us with our keyboards, especially if we use headphones. We can, especially with superb quality headphones, turn up the wick, and though enjoying the great sound, can be doing permanent damage to our ears.
Here are some suggestions to help prevent this trouble.
Set the volume at a sensible level and resist the temptation to increase it.
Take regular breaks of at least five minutes every hour to give your ears a rest.
Use a volume limiter on your device, if there is one available. This device means that you will not be able to turn the music up without realising it.
Turn the volume down a notch anyway. It will make a big difference to how long you can listen safely for.
Invest in some noise-cancelling headphones. These block out the noise around you, and also mean you won’t have to turn up the volume to a dangerous level to hear your music properly over background noise.
In my next Reply, we consider noise exposure of orchestra players.
To be continued .. Peter