Warning from experts on headphones: High volume leads to acoustic trauma
Experts warned that listening to music with headphones for long periods and at high volumes damages hair cells in the inner ear, increasing the risk of permanent hearing loss.
Being exposed to high volumes through headphones throughout the day can lead to damage to hair cells in the inner ear, acoustic trauma, and permanent hearing loss. Experts emphasize that headphone volume should not be increased to mask external sounds.
Headphone Use and Hearing Loss
Experts point out that the problem stems not just from using headphones, but from exceeding decibel limits and prolonged exposure. Being exposed to excessive and high-intensity sound causes cell death in the inner ear.
Acoustic Trauma and Sound Level
Prof. Dr. Suat Turgut states that sound at a normal conversational level of 30-40 decibels does not lead to acoustic trauma. He notes that young people turn up the volume to mask outside noise, which increases the risk of trauma in the inner ear.
Physical Effects of In-Ear Headphones
It is noted that headphones inserted directly into the canal damage the external ear canal and cause infections. To prevent these negative effects, bone-conduction open-ear headphones that leave the outer ear canal open offer an alternative.
Safe Listening Durations and Decibel Limits
Prof. Dr. Zahide Mine Yazıcı emphasizes that an 80-decibel sound should be listened to for a maximum of 40 hours per week, that the safe exposure duration rapidly shortens as the sound intensity increases, and that the sound intensity should not exceed 60 percent.
Importance of Noise-Canceling Headphones
Stating that the volume is increased to hear music in noisy environments like public transportation, Yazıcı notes that noise-canceling headphones are beneficial by suppressing external sound and preventing the need to increase sound intensity.
Audiometric Evaluation and World Health Organization Data
Experts state that ordinary hearing tests do not always reveal the full damage, highlighting the importance of tests that check high frequencies. Additionally, according to World Health Organization data, it is projected that approximately 1 billion young people could experience hearing loss in the future if safe listening techniques are not heeded.