Headphones can cause hearing loss. Interestingly enough, Pete Townshend of the famous Rockband WHO, says the cause of his hearing loss is due to using headphones in the recording studio, not the loud music on stage.
Headphones and hearing loss
The average listening level of music players is 100 – 110 decibels. Over time, that is going to damage hearing.
There are many makers of noise-reduction headphones for kids that restrict the volume level, no matter how loud the volume. Search “noise reduction headphones” in Google® and take your pick.
Protect your Hearing
During my youth, I did stupid things that likely further damaged my hearing. Most memorable was a rock concert whereby my body felt transparent as the sound boomed through. My ears felt “spongy” for FOUR days following that concert. Not good for someone who already has a hearing loss.
I also listened to music through headphones so loud my parents could hear it across the room. It wasn’t because I needed the volume to hear the music – I just wanted to “lose” myself in it.
No one could convince me to protect what hearing I had. No one.
In Conclusion
It is up to the listener to protect their hearing by not blasting sound through headsets directly into the ears. Instead, protect your ears. Listen to music at a lower volume through headphones and wear earplugs or earmuffs when exposed to sound levels exceeding 90-100 decibels. Noise-canceling headphones are a good investment, too, if you are in a loud environment. After all, noise can damage your hearing regardless of the source.
Perhaps knowing what it is like to have a hearing loss may inspire you or someone you love to protect their ears. There are plenty of sobering sound samples on the web. My favorite is the Flintstones clip created by the famous House Institute.
