Many people think that hearing loss comes with the territory of old age. But the truth is that it isn’t inevitable. Caring for the health of your ears is like caring for your teeth; if you stay on top of it when you’re young, you’ll be glad you did. There are steps you can take in your youth to reduce the risk of hearing loss further down the line. One of these is by keeping your headphones at a reasonable volume. Here are a few signs that you’ve set the volume on your headphones too loud.
Are your headphones too loud? Here are some signs they might be.
Can Others Hear It?
When listening to music on your headphones, have those sitting around you ever commented on the fact that they can hear it? Even if you haven’t had this experience yourself, you’ve likely experienced the flipside. Who hasn’t felt annoyed over how loud someone else’s music was, even though they were using headphones.
If those at more than an arm’s length from you can hear the sound on your headphones, you might be doing some damage to your hearing.
Your Ears Ring Afterward
At one point or another, you have probably been to a concert that was too loud and experienced a noticeable ringing in your ears afterward. Typically, this goes away in a few hours or—at worst—a couple days. But you shouldn’t dismiss it. If this happens to you, your ears are trying to tell you something: it’s too loud!
If your ears ring after using headphones or earbuds, take it seriously. Even if they don’t ring, sound might seem muffled, which is another indicator you’ve set your headphones too loud.
Can You Have a Conversation?
This tip applies more to earbuds than to headphones. Not all headphones are noise-canceling, but the cup over your ears naturally provides a little bit of soundproofing that makes it harder for ambient noise to get through. This makes headphones the safer option in louder settings, because you don’t have to turn up the volume to compensate.
For this test, you’ll need a cooperative partner. Using earbuds, see if you can have a conversation with another individual. If you’re unable to hear what your partner says, or if you’re raising your voice, the volume is too loud.
Experiencing Hearing Loss? Bay Area Audiology Is Here To Help
Ready to do something about your hearing loss? Our Doctor of Audiology, Dr. Trisha A. Bents Muth, is exceptionally experienced in the art of audiology, and provides the absolute best solutions. Bay Area Audiology has been working to give patients a comfortable environment, with thorough evaluations. We are independently owned, and unbiased when it comes to finding you the care you need.
You can always come into the office, or contact us in advance to set up an appointment. We also provide updates on our social media websites. You can check out our Facebook, Twitter,
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Don’t hesitate–we can help.