The hidden dangers of using earphones all day
Hello everyone!!!
In today's digital world, earphones and earbuds have become an integral aspect of our life. Most of us use it while listenig to music, watching movies, attending online classes, travelling and making calls. Some people use it continuously for several hours everyday. Although it makes our life private and gives a good sense of sound effects, it certainly has some harmful effects in our hearing mechanism.
Being an otorhinolaryngology specialist, I often find it interesting how an small habit damages our one of the most precious sense of hearing.
What is noised- induced hearing loss?
Normally, the sounds at safe levels usually do not damage our ears. It travels through the air, is received by the pinna , travels via our external auditory canal that vibrates up the tympanic membrane. The sound is then picked up by the ear ossicles namely malleus, incus and stapes and is transmitted to the inner ear where its moves the cochlear fluid which in turn moves the hair cells located in the cochlea.
Image source: 
These hair cells are extremely sensitive. Exposure to the loud sounds for a long period of time can damage them permanently. Those damaged hair cells, unlike other cells in the human body usuaully do not regenerate.
Who is affected by noise induced hearing loss?
It can affect poeple of any age who repeatedly use earphones for a prolonged period of time.
According to one study studying about hearing loss in children, 17% of teens from age group of 13 to 17 years suffered from some form of noise induced hearing loss. The studied concluded that prolonged exposure to noise and minimal use of hearing protection might have caused such damage.
What causes noise induced hearing loss?
Noise induced hearing loss may be produced by a rapid impulsive explosive sounds like bombarding and gunshot sounds but may also be produced by prolonged exposure to low intensity sounds like playing music in a loud sound, attenting loud concerts occupational exposure to industrial sounds for a long period of time.
WHO grading of hearing loss
a) Mild: 20-34 dB: no difficulty in quiet environment, dificulty in hearing at noisy environment.
b) Moderate: 35-49dB: difficulty in hearing a normal voice in quiet environment.
c) Moderately severe: 50-64dB: needs louder speech to hear in quiet environment, has great difficulty in noise.
d): Severe: 65-79dB: In quiet, can hear loud speech directly in one's ear and in noise has very great difficulty.
e) Profound: 80-94dB: Unable to hear even a shouted voice even in quiet environment.
Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=noise-induced+hearing+loss&title=Special%3AMediaSearch&type=image
This is an image of a person who suffered from a noise induced hearing loss. We can see a dip in the bone conduction curve at 4K frequency which is typical of noise induced hearing loss.
How can we prevent noise induced hearing loss due to earphone use?
- Follow the 60/60 rule: A commonly recommended suggestion is to avoid raising the sound volume to more than 60% of the highest volume and not using the earphones for more than 6o minutes continuously.
- Take regular breaks: prevents irregular damage to the hair cells of the inner ear.
- Avoid sleeps with earphone on.
- Use noise cancellation devices to allow listening at low volumes comfortably.
When should we consult the otologist ?
If we feel ear ache, sudden hearing loss, persistent tinnitus or ringing sensations in the ear and ear fullness after prolonged earphones use, we have to consult an otologist for further evaluation.
Conclusion
Although earphones are a part of our day to day life, it must be used cautiously. It must be used at safe volumes, must take regular breaks and must have noise cancellation facilities for maintaining safely functioning ears.
References