MP3 Players and Hearing Loss

Nowadays, it seems like almost everyone has an electronic device on them at all times. While the standard MP3 player seems to have fallen off, handheld technology is still thriving with the use of smartphones and tablets. Nowadays, anyone can listen to music on their phone or iPad or watch a movie or television show. With the increase of screen time, this often equates to an increased usage of headphones. While it is essential to be considerate of the people around you, you still need to exercise caution when it comes to listening to sound through a pair of headphones. There is a connection between MP3 players and hearing loss, especially when the proper precautions are not followed.

To help you preserve your hearing ability, learn more about the connection between MP3 players and hearing loss. Knowledge is power, so make sure you know these helpful safety tips that can help preserve your hearing.

1. Anytime you are wearing headphones, you must remain aware of your usage time. You do not want to listen to music or a movie for hours without giving your ears a break. Instead, a good rule of thumb is to give your ears at least a 10-minute break for every hour you have on headphones.

2. If you are in the market to buy a new pair of headphones or have a few different pairs lying around, aim to use headphones that don’t seal off the ear or go inside the ear. Instead, use headphones that sit softly on the outer ear.

3. If you are listening to music, each song can be at different volume levels, depending on the track’s quality. Be mindful of this, and be sure to turn down the volume on any song that is too loud. A good rule of thumb is being able to hear a normal conversation around you still while listening to audio through your headphones.

4. Another way to protect your ears from noise-induced hearing loss is to follow the 60/60 rule. This rule goes with some of the other tips previously mentioned, and it means that you don’t listen to music for more than 60 minutes at a time and do not turn the volume level up past 60%.

5. If you want to ensure that your portable media player cannot reach a volume level that can damage your ears, set the volume limiter to the maximum volume level desired. Typically this feature is found in the settings and is an excellent way to ensure your device can not be turned up too loud.