Mobile sound decibels threaten young ears

Modern headphones used in personal audio devices seriously increase the volume of sound, which negatively affects the eardrums and affects the acuity of hearing. Researchers say that today’s young people are hearing worse. Really. Hearing loss among adolescents increased by 30 percent compared to 1980-1990.

We used to have a Walkman with two AA batteries and overhead headphones. At high volume, the sound was distorted and the batteries quickly discharged. Today, we use smartphones, which, being very complex computer devices, offer impeccable accuracy of sound reproduction, said Srikant Cherukuri, an expert from Munster, Indiana, USA.

Cherukuri believes that smartphones and audio players like the iPod are to blame for hearing loss in modern youth. The expert advises young people to abandon the use of earbuds, which direct sound closer to the eardrum, increasing the volume by as much as 9 decibels.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), young people are at risk of hearing loss due to excessive use of sound-producing devices, including smartphones, as well as the destructive power of sound in noisy places such as nightclubs, concert venues and sports bars.

According to statistics, teenagers and young people aged 12-35 years are almost 50% exposed to dangerous sound levels that come from personal audio devices, as well as 40% from places of noisy entertainment.

Safe levels of sound exposure, according to WHO recommendations, should not exceed 85 decibels (dB) for eight hours or 100 dB for 15 minutes.

Nerve synapses are more vulnerable to damage than hair sensory cells in the inner ear. An animal study found that even one-time exposure to intense noise accelerates hearing loss in the future.

According to experts, the best way to protect young ears from a loud sound is to follow the 60/60 rule. According to this rule, music should be listened to at a volume of 60 percent of the maximum volume of the MP3 player, and no more than 60 minutes a day.

P.S. And remember, just by changing our consumption, we change the world together!

Source: hi-news.ru