by Author aliceross

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6 Tips for listening to music safely

The key to preventing hearing damage is to be safe when listening to music. Here are 6 tips to help you out.

In 2015 the World Health Organization reported that 1.1 billion young people aged 12 to 35 years are at risk of developing significant hearing loss due to the unsafe levels of loud music they expose themselves to. Hearing isn’t commonly thought of when one considers their own health but hearing health is an important part of everyday life for most of us so it’s important to protect our ears.

 

The key to preventing hearing damage is to be safe when listening to music. Here are 6 tips to help you out.

 

1. Turn Down for Hearing Health

 

The lower the volume you listen to your music at, the better. Your music player can produce max volumes of 100 decibels! That’s similar to the decibels reached at concerts, and at this volume, hearing damage can occur after only 15 minutes. Some music players have warnings for when your music is being played too loud, this is good advice and should be followed, or should we say, listened too.

 

2. The 60/60 Rule

 

The maximum volume you should have your music player at is 60%. As mentioned above, 100 decibels can damage your ears within 15 minutes. A good rule to follow is 60% for 60 minutes. After an hour of listening to music at 60% volume, it’s suggested you take a break.

 

3. Headphones Over Earphones

 

Headphones sit over your ear, rather than inside, like earphones do. Headphones are a lot better for your hearing as they are further away from your eardrum, and so they don’t send vibrations directly into your eardrum. A direct and consistent vibration of sound can eventually cause damage to your hearing.

 

4. Noise-cancelling is Best

 

Noise-cancelling headphones are your best option. Not only do they provide the benefits mentioned above, they cancel out background noise, allowing you to keep your music to a low level.

 

It’s important to remember not to wear these while you’re out and about as they can be hazardous! You should always be audibly, as well as visually aware of your surroundings.

 

5. Be Careful of Noisy Environments

 

As stated above, concerts, sporting arenas and other loud events and areas can reach volume levels of 100 decibels, which can damage your hearing very quickly. In these scenarios, you should use a good pair of ear plugs to protect your hearing.

 

Listening to music in other noisy areas, such as a busy city street or on a train can also be dangerous. The noisy nature of these environments can lead you to turn up the volume to dangerous levels. Listening in quieter areas at a lower volume is better for your hearing health.

 

6. Online Listening

 

This tip doesn’t relate to the safety of your hearing, but rather to the safety of listening to music you are streaming or downloading. Using a VPN to listen to music on online services means you can get around geoblocks and sign up to music streaming services outside of your country. Along with this, you have the added security benefit as a VPN will help you protect your identity online.

 

Your ears are sensitive, especially to loud noises and sounds that are extremely close to them, like music coming from an earphone. Following these tips can help ensure your hearing health so you can continue listening to music throughout your life.