Headphones Vs EarBuds – Reasons why headphones might be a better option

One of the most effective strategies to lower your chances of hearing loss is to avoid noise-induced trauma. While everyone is aware that loud noises such as construction equipment and aircraft engines can cause hearing impairment, fewer people are aware of another, more common cause. I’m referring to music.

I believe that most people nowadays have a smartphone that they use to listen to music. With the introduction of streaming services like Spotify and Google Play Music, listening to your favourite music has never been easier. Unfortunately, it’s also a definite method to increase your risk of noise-induced hearing loss if you’re not careful.

• I’d like to present you with some information:
• Sounds up to 70 decibels can be safely heard by the human ear (dB).
• The average volume of a normal discussion is 60 decibels.
• Hearing damage can be caused by sounds that are louder than 70 decibels over an extended length of time.
• Sounds that are louder than 85 decibels can cause irreversible hearing loss.
• Headphones can produce a maximum sound intensity of 85 to 110 decibels.

Most apps and devices, thankfully, feature a warning when your volume approaches dangerous levels. Unfortunately, the majority of us tend to disregard the warning. Keep your headphones at no more than 60% of their maximum volume to take hearing protection seriously.

It’s also worth noting that the appropriate headphones can make a difference. Although earphones are very trendy these days, I would advise avoiding wearing them excessively for several reasons.

For starters, because music is sent directly into the ear canal, there’s a significantly higher risk of injuring your ears if the volume is turned up too high. Nothing stands between your ears and the noise to shield you. Earbuds can also push earwax deeper into the ears, causing obstructions and driving you to adjust the volume even higher.

A better option is to use over-the-ear headphones. Not only do you avoid having music directed directly into your eardrums, but most over-the-ear headphones are also more pleasant to use than earbuds in general. Better better, higher-end headphones frequently include noise-canceling technology, minimizing your need to turn up the volume even further.

Expecting individuals to quit listening to music is neither realistic nor reasonable. But there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to safeguard our hearing while listening to music. The first method is to keep the volume low and limit exposure, and the second is to use over-the-ear headphones instead of earbuds.