How should I listen to music?

Dear Jade,

I love music so much and I always listen to it. I use earphones most of the time because well, it’s convenient when I’m walking around and going to places. Recently though, I’m worried about my hearing. It somehow changed… I’m not really sure. I heard from my friends that too much listening to music on earphones could damage my hearing. Can you help me with this? What should I do? I don’t want to listen on speakers because I can’t “feel” the feel of the songs…

Slave of music,
Ash



Hey Ash!

Oh no! I hope your hearing is not yet permanently damaged. I suggest you get your ear checked, just to be sure. However, I will try to help you with your problem in this entry. :)

First of all, your friends are semi-right. Listening too much music on earphones could damage your hearing but if the volume is above the recommended level. It will not harm your hearing if it is below or on the recommended level though. According to the United States Occupational Safety and Health Agency, the maximum level of sound that is considered safe for our ears is at 85 dB.

Now, let me explain to you how your hearing is damaged. The structure that is usually damaged when you are listening to very loud sounds is the hair cells in our inner ear. The hair cells are responsible for the conversion of the sound into electrical signals, which the brain could understand. Think of it this way: when you go into an arcade, you need to buy coins at the counter first. If you use the monetary coins, the machines would not accept it. The brain is just like the machine that could only function if you put the arcade’s coins in it. The counter where you get your arcade coins is the hair cells. So when your hair cells are damaged, your hearing is considered damaged as well because the brain can no longer get signals and thus, it “hears nothing.”

According to current researches (and my music teacher), it is recommended for us to listen to music on earphones at most 60 minutes a day with maximum 60% volume level. It is, of course, better to listen to speakers but do not worry, I get you. It is hard to “feel” the song when it is on speakers. Right now, I suggest you lessen the time you listen to music on earphones and lower down the volume of the music. You could also purchase headphones that cancel noises so a lower volume of the music is already enough.

I hope that you take care of your hearing because it is a shame when the time comes when you cannot appreciate music any longer.

Senserely yours,
Jade

References:

Fligor, B.J. & Cox, L.C. (2004). Output levels of commercially available portable compact disc players and the potential risk to hearing. Ear & Hearing, 25(6), 513-527

Goldstein, E.B. (2010). Sensation and Perception. Belmont, California: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Kirschner, C. (2013). Are headphones bad for your hearing? Retrieved from http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/gadgets-electronics/stories/are-headphones-bad-for-your-hearing

Photo credit:

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