THE DAMAGE DONE BY HEADPHONES

       There are many technologies and devices which can be dangerous as well if not properly used. In the modern world, many of us are wearing headphones all day, every day. Headphones and earbuds are everywhere, but that doesn’t mean they are safe for our ears. Using earbuds and headphones can cause damage to our hearing, if we aren’t careful and don’t learn how to keep ourselves safe.

     People usually have a smartphone in their pocket and a pair of headphones that connect it directly to their ears, unfortunately those same devices that make listening or talking on the phone so direct damage our ears.  According to a 2011 study published in the journal of the American Medical Association; the use of headphones and earbuds has led to a major increase in the prevalence off hearing loss in adolescents and young adults. As a result  of the study, it was also seen, the prevalence of hearing loss among a sample of US adolescents aged 12 to 19 years was greater in 2005-2006 compared with 1988-1994.  For this reason; hearing loss is a common sensory disorder, affecting 20 million  individuals, especially adolescents and of all ages, in Turkey.

       It is obvious  that headphones can lead to some adverse effects. When we wear the headphones, strong vibrations reach our ear, the problem deep inside the cochlea is the fragile hairs and they turn vibrations into sound messages and send them to the brain. But the loud sound damages the hair cells and the cochlea can’t relay the sound messages to the brain and also unlike the damage to other parts of the body, it can’t be cured. The world Health Organization estimates more than 1 billion young people are in danger of hearing loss from portable audio devices, including smartphones. For this reason, when the damage  starts, then we are really on an irreversible journey, we should protect our life from these devices.

       There are also some preventative measures  against the damage done by  headphones. Firstly, avoid using headphones when alone and choose the right headphones or select the one with good sound  allowing you to hear a clear audio, which leads you to listen at low volume because the right volume is  probably not going to damage the hearing process. Doctor Foy also said  follow the %60 rule in regards to percentage of maximum volume and duration of time. There are also some advertisements and companies claiming/ which claim that you need expensive headphones to protect your hearing. This is obviously a wrong idea; the price doesn’t really correlate with the sound quality or the protection.

     Technology is a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it can make your life easier and more convenient. But on the other hand, it comes with a lot of side effects and drawbacks. Especially headphones are great, when we are traveling, working out and just want to relax, but there are some harmful effects we are likely going to experience, if we don’t use them correctly.

FIRAT AKKUŞ