Music is a big part of life for most people. Aside from being pleasant, it has other benefits, too. In fact, listening to music may fight anxiety, improve sleep, increase mental alertness, relieve blood pressure, and even boost memory. Those benefits are great, but some people are paying a price for listening to music. They are developing hearing loss from music and listening to music.
No one should have to worry about their hearing when all they want to do is listen to music. Below, I’ve gathered five tips to help you fight hearing loss from listening to music.
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Use Over the Ear Headphones
One thing to consider is the type of headphones you’re using. Earbuds are popular and for many reasons. These fit securely in your ears, and if they are designed well, you hardly notice them. If that isn’t enough, earbuds are very discreet, and that could be a benefit in many situations. People also love that they can drown out outside noise.
While all that may be true, earbuds are also more dangerous for your hearing. They are put directly into the ears, much closer to the inner ear, which is quite delicate. Of course, headphones can hurt your inner ear but not as effectively as earbuds, so replace these as soon as possible.
Noise-Canceling Headphones
Now that you know that headphones are ideal, you also need to make sure they are noise-canceling headphones. This is helpful for various reasons, like the fact that you won’t be tempted to listen to music at high volumes, which will be discussed more later.
These have to be high-quality headphones. If you opt for low-quality, you’ll hear too much interference and will be tempted to fight the background noise with higher volumes.
ZVOX, makers of the VB20, one of the most popular hearing aids on this website, makes great American-made noise cancelling headphones.
Keep That Volume Low
Volume is the next thing to address, as it drives a lot of music-related hearing loss. As mentioned earlier, having noise-canceling headphones can reduce the need to increase the volume. This will help you stick to a lower volume.
To help you keep volumes at safe levels, stick to 60 percent capacity or at 65 decibels. To know the decibel count, you need a special meter, which is why 60 percent should be safe on virtually any device.
If anyone around can listen to what you’re hearing, your volume is too high and should be lowered a bit. If you find yourself cranking up the volume of your headphones or television, it may be time to shop around for hearing aids.
Take a Few Breaks
While music is great, all good things are best in moderation. When it comes to music on your headphones, the same applies. People who continually listen to music on their headphones have a higher chance of developing hearing loss.
Change the way you’re listening to music every so often to give your ears a break.
Plug Your Ears at Concerts
Live music is one of the best ways to enjoy music. Something about live performances is magic. Maybe the excitement comes from being around your favorite artist or maybe it’s the energy from the fans there.
The problem is that the volume at concerts is often far too high. Scientists believe that if a person is going to listen to something for a while, it should be between 60 to 85 decibels and no more than that.
A normal concert is going to reach about 120 decibels. That’s way too much, and it’s not safe for your hearing. It’s one of the reasons many rock artists have developed hearing problems.
No one is saying you can’t go to a concert, but just take precautions when you go.
Stand far enough from the speakers. The further you are, the better. Always plug your ears (here are some concert plugs to try out). Those concerts are loud enough, so you’ll still hear just fine. On top of all that, try not to go to them too often. Be a little more selective about these events.
Conclusion
Now, you know how to keep your ears safe when listening to music. Hearing loss is more common than you might imagine, so anything that you can do to keep your hearing healthy is a smart thing. As a side note, once you have those earplugs, keep them around when you’re operating loud machines – even your lawnmower is too loud.