Hearing damage due to headphones

Headphones - the misjudged danger: ENT doctors warn of continuous sound and too much decibel

03/04/2012

With the first rays of sunshine, many feel the desire to get active outdoors. Whether cycling in the fresh air, morning jogging or swimming on the lake - MP3 players or music phones including headphones and favorite band are becoming increasingly common. But most underestimate the health effects of sound on their hearing. Contrary to all assumptions, not only the volume, but also the duration plays a role for possible damage to the ear. Specialists from the HNOnet NRW, a consortium of established ENT doctors from North Rhine-Westphalia, point this out.

„If music fans expose their ears for a long time to high sound levels, the hair cells in the inner ear are undersupplied with nutrients and thus become temporarily deaf“, explains Dr. Uso Walter, CEO of HNonet NRW. Normally, the cells recover and hear affected people again at the latest the next morning as normal. However, sound their ears permanently and give them no rest, the hair cells die and are irrecoverably lost. „However, this usually does not manifest itself in a noticeable hearing problem, but can only be measured with special tests“, emphasizes Walter. However, many young people not only constantly hear Beats & Co. on headphones, but also go to discos and pubs, to concerts or let the whole day run by the way radio. That adds up. In addition, some people always turn the level to the limit and exceed reasonable values ​​by far. 80 decibels survive the sensory cells without damage up to eight hours a day. At 88 dB, there are only four hours left. At 94 dB - which corresponds to a normal set MP3 player - the damage starts after one hour. A noise level of 105 dB keeps the auditory cells only about five minutes without losses. A value that Loosely reach according to the set devices. „At the latest, when a humming occurs or the feeling of cotton wool in the ear, the pegs have to get out“, advises Dr. Walter. „These symptoms are a warning sign and indicate that the hair cells are suffering.“

Basically, even ears need rest. Anyone who repeatedly gives his hearing-aid cells the opportunity to restore their metabolic balance and does not exaggerate it permanently in terms of volume need not fear lasting damage. However, if, despite all precautions, there is a sustained beeping, tinnitus and / or numbness, be sure to visit an ENT specialist. Symptoms suggest a sudden loss of hearing in which ENT specialists must initiate circulation-enhancing measures to prevent unpleasant secondary effects such as tinnitus or permanent hearing loss. (Pm)

Image: Benjamin Klack