Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

World Hearing Day: Are Long Hours With Headphones Harming Ear Health In Working Professionals?

From virtual meetings and online calls to webinars, gaming, workouts, and long commutes, headphones and earphones have become nearly indispensable -- almost an extension of the human body. But the continuous exposure to sounds for long periods may be adversely affecting your hearing health, warned health experts on World Hearing Day.

World Hearing Day is observed on March 3 each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world.

Hearing loss in an adult can impact day-to-day conversations, work-related activities, and social engagements, to name a few. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than one billion young adults are at risk of permanent, avoidable hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices.

“The repeated exposure to sound will directly impact the hairlike cells in the inner ear as they are damaged and run the risk of death, therefore resulting in Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). This type of damage occurs and can be permanent, unlike the temporary ear fatigue that we all are likely to experience,” Dr. (Prof.) Anand Gupta, Regional Director &amp; Head - ENT, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Faridabad, told HealthandMe. 

According to the US National Institutes of Health, NIHL can be immediate or take a long time to be noticeable. It can affect one ear or both ears. 

Dr. Gupta noted that wearing headphones for long hours daily can make individuals more vulnerable to being harmed by NIHL. 

Importantly, headphones with noise-cancellation abilities are at an even greater risk of causing NIHL, should the user have their volume set above 60 percent, Dr. Gupta said.

“Prolonged exposure to sound at any volume greater than 60 per cent creates further demands on the auditory system than normal, which can exaggerate symptoms associated with NIHL,” he added. 

The most commonly experienced symptoms of NIHL include 

<ul><li>occasional headaches, </li><li>ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or "buzzing" sounds, </li><li>muffled hearing, </li><li>difficulty understanding conversations, </li><li>a feeling of fullness in the ears.</li></ul>

Individuals who routinely listen to headphones should also have their hearing checked regularly. Taking simple precautions at this time could help prevent permanent hearing loss in the future. 

The experts advised detecting hearing loss early. 

“If you are an adult and have concerns about your ability to hear, consult with your otolaryngologist as soon as possible," Dr. Sumit Mrig, Director &amp; Unit Head, ENT (Ear, Nose &amp; Throat) &amp; Cochlear Implant, Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, told HealthandMe. 

Depending upon how severely impaired your hearing is, the appropriate interventions may include hearing aids or other means that can dramatically improve your ability to communicate as well as improve your overall life quality,” Dr. Mrig added. 

Other ways to prevent hearing damage include 

<ul><li>taking listening breaks every 10-15 minutes; </li><li>lowering background noise (i.e., not turning the headphones up soundwise); </li><li>and/or making use of quality, fitted headphones. </li></ul>

"Extended headphones, when used at high volumes, can strain the delicate structures of the inner ear, potentially leading to noise-induced hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear fatigue as well. Working professionals should also follow the 60- 60 rule, not more than 60 percent volume for 60 minutes as a stretch, and take regular listening breaks as well," Dr. Ashwath Kasliwal, Senior Consultant - ENT, Head and Neck, Apollo Spectra Hospital, Jaipur, told HealthandMe.

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From virtual meetings and online calls to webinars, gaming, workouts, and long commutes, headphones and earphones have become nearly indispensable -- almost an extension of the human body. But the continuous exposure to sounds for long periods may be adversely affecting your hearing health, warned health experts on World Hearing Day. World Hearing Day is observed on March 3 each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world.  Hearing loss in an adult can impact day-to-day conversations, work-related activities, and social engagements, to name a few. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than one billion young adults are at risk of permanent, avoidable hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices.“The repeated exposure to sound will directly impact the hairlike cells in the inner ear as they are damaged and run the risk of death, therefore resulting in Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). This type of damage occurs and can be permanent, unlike the temporary ear fatigue that we all are likely to experience,” Dr. (Prof.) Anand Gupta, Regional Director & Head - ENT, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Faridabad, told HealthandMe. According to the US National Institutes of Health, NIHL can be immediate or take a long time to be noticeable. It can affect one ear or both ears. Dr. Gupta noted that wearing headphones for long hours daily can make individuals more vulnerable to being harmed by NIHL. Importantly, headphones with noise-cancellation abilities are at an even greater risk of causing NIHL, should the user have their volume set above 60 percent, Dr. Gupta said. “Prolonged exposure to sound at any volume greater than 60 per cent creates further demands on the auditory system than normal, which can exaggerate symptoms associated with NIHL,” he added. The most commonly experienced symptoms of NIHL include occasional headaches, ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or "buzzing" sounds, muffled hearing, difficulty understanding conversations, a feeling of fullness in the ears.Annual Hearing Checkups Individuals who routinely listen to headphones should also have their hearing checked regularly. Taking simple precautions at this time could help prevent permanent hearing loss in the future.  The experts advised detecting hearing loss early. “If you are an adult and have concerns about your ability to hear, consult with your otolaryngologist as soon as possible," Dr. Sumit Mrig, Director & Unit Head, ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) & Cochlear Implant, Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, told HealthandMe. Depending upon how severely impaired your hearing is, the appropriate interventions may include hearing aids or other means that can dramatically improve your ability to communicate as well as improve your overall life quality,” Dr. Mrig added. Other ways to prevent hearing damage include taking listening breaks every 10-15 minutes; lowering background noise (i.e., not turning the headphones up soundwise); and/or making use of quality, fitted headphones. "Extended headphones, when used at high volumes, can strain the delicate structures of the inner ear, potentially leading to noise-induced hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear fatigue as well. Working professionals should also follow the 60- 60 rule, not more than 60 percent volume for 60 minutes as a stretch, and take regular listening breaks as well," Dr. Ashwath Kasliwal, Senior Consultant - ENT, Head and Neck, Apollo Spectra Hospital, Jaipur, told HealthandMe.

world hearing day: are long hours with headphones harming ear health in working professionals?

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World Hearing Day: Are Long Hours With Headphones Harming Ear Health In Working Professionals?