Whether it’s going out from a run, sat on a bus/train or on a stroll through the countryside, we all use headphones at some point in our lives. If used correctly they pose little concern for users.
The problem starts when there’s a lot of background noise to battle against or your favourite song comes on. The volume levels slowly and surely increase to a level that is damaging to your ears. The World Health Organisation has even claimed that they believe that the single biggest cause of preventable hearing loss in loud music.
Headphones and earphones are more commonly used in the younger generation and it’s for this reason that today, one in five teens has some form of hearing loss: about 30 per cent higher than it was in the 1980s and 1990s.
Of course, headphones were available from the 1950s but access is now much more mainstream, and the ability to listen on portable devices means that there is no escaping them.
What headphone volume is too loud?
As a rule, if you cannot hear your surroundings with headphones in, it is likely that the volume is too high.
Sounds at 85 dB or below is considered safe. To put this into perspective, the majority of music devices go up to 120dB. As the volume increases, the safe time of exposure decreases.
It’s not just about the level volume that you’re listening at, the length of time you are listening is also important: the higher the volume the less amount of time you should be listening to music.
Here is some guidance on volume levels when listening to music on your headphones:
- 95 dB: damage will occur after four hours of exposure per day
- 100 dB: damage will occur after two hours of exposure per day
- 105 dB: damage will occur after one hour of exposure per day
- 110 dB: damage will occur after 30 minutes of exposure per day
- 115 dB: damage will occur after 15 minutes of exposure per day
- 120+ dB: damage occurs almost immediately
Noticing hearing loss?
The Hearing Centre is a specialist centre dedicated to solving hearing problems in Leicester. Our centre provides a full spectrum of hearing services including; hearing tests, hearing aid fittings, wax removal, tinnitus treatments, noise protection, swimming protection.
If you are concerned about the condition of your hearing, call the Hearing Centre on 0116 254 3909 or book a hearing test here.