Loud Earphone
Loud Earphone
Can listening to loud music through earphones on a regular basis for years effect thinking ability?
Just wondering…
It will affect your hearing, and then subsequently your thinking. The ringing in your ears will surely become a distraction and an obstacle for your thoughts.
Pamper Your Ears — You’re Going To Need ‘Em For A Long Time
“Deafening†noises annoy anyone. But they’re not called deafening by chance. Loud noises do literally deafen. What do we mean by deafening though? And why do we even care?
Hearing loss is becoming more and more common, even after age 40. Actually, even before age 40, in this age of earphones and loud noise. You may have read about this in magazines or newspapers before, and thought, Okay whatever. I’ve heard psychologists say we need to see or hear something seven times before it sinks in.  And there is much more to hearing loss than meets the ear. So take a moment to read this.
The American Hearing Research Foundation believes hearing loss will increase as the population ages, of course. And because of the constant use of headphones and exposure to loud noise by younger folks, loss of hearing will be common even in their 30s. There are about 40 million Americans with hearing loss, and it is estimated that 10 million of those cases were due to NHL (noise-induced hearing loss). It is, in fact, considered the leading occupational hazard.
Hearing loss can happen over time as the sensitive hear mechanisms that conduct sound get bombarded with high-decibel noises that we are unable to handle. For instance, the delicate conductive hairs within the ears can permanently break off when damaged. But not always over time. It can happen quite suddenly. And then what.
Ever heard of sudden hearing loss? Over 4,000 cases of sudden loss of hearing occur in the U.S. yearly, between ages 30 and 60. It’s considered sudden if the loss occurs within 3 days. But what triggers it off? There are a variety of reasons, but mostly it is a mystery. Ear specialists do know, however, that high-decibel, loud sounds can suddenly cause us to lose our hearing. A decibel (dB), as you may know, is a measurement of sound pressure. Earphones and loud music aside, there are everyday noises that we take for granted and don’t pay much attention to.
So do you hunt? Go to concerts, especially rock concerts? How about a motorcycle? Ever around loud machinery or equipment on a regular basis – like a construction zone? And what about that big-time thunder storm? Let’s take a look at what this means. Normal human conversation is at about 60 dB. Hearing loss can occur if decibels are above 85. So…
Motorcycle noise is 100 dB, and if you’re around it for 15 minutes per day on a fairly regular basis, you can weaken and/or lose your hearing. Music on earphones at a setting of 5, is also about 100 dB. So 15 minutes a day may increasingly weaken the ears. A clap of thunder is 120 dB and can cause immediate damage, even if temporary. But the ear has then been weakened. A rock concert is 130 dB and damage, either temporary or permanent, can occur after 10 or 15 minutes. Guns such as shot guns are 140 to 190 dB. Hunters and war veterans have high occurrence of hearing loss to some degree. The higher the decibels, the more chance of sudden loss of hearing. Keep in mind, this is sometimes temporary (and the ear has been weakened) – but it can definitely be permanent damage as well.
Does this mean we will soon have the streets and malls full of younger people with hearing aids attached to their ears instead of headphones? I don’t know. But the point is, it’s smart to protect and pamper our hearing a little. Wear ear plugs if you need to. Turn down the volume, or even turn it off and give your system a break. Close the windows if there is constant noise outside. Steer clear of loud noise areas. I’ve personally seen how hearing loss can impact a person’s quality of life, especially as we age. Let’s plan ahead and do what we can to enjoy our future to the max and extend our quality of life not just into our golden years – but at least into our 40s!
Read more about Sudden Hearing Loss and related topics on our web site.
About the Author
Mary Schulte is the founder of ElderOneStop, LLC and www.elder-one-stop.com specializing in one-stop resources and information for seniors and baby boomers — including health, caregiving, nutrition, gifts, activities, gifts, retirement, housing, travel, and more. A free newsletter is available, as well as a web site subscription.