Earbuds Can Cause Hearing loss

One of electronic gadgets is Headphones or Ear buds (in ear headphones). Those who are regular users of headphones are often inclined to use it for pretty long hours. It is possible for temporary or permanent hearing impairment to occur to those who use headphones at high volume.

We are living in new era of technology. Technology brings many instruments, ideas, equipments and devices which no doubt also make a revolutionary change in Health & Medical Sciences and services. Some devices or electronic gadgets that have flooded the market e.g.Â Phones to media players and from personal computers to palmtops are now connected with our daily life and these are in frequent use.

What are Earbuds or Earphones?

The smaller type of earphone known as ear buds goes straight inside the center of your ear canal. Listening to music at a high volume this close to your inner ear especially for extended periods of time will damage the sensitive parts that make up the organ. So it’s possible you can eventually cause permanent damage to your ears by using your earphones.

How Sound Travels in your Ear?

The ear is defined by three sections: inner, middle and external. Sound travels in waves and when they reach the inner part of your ears, these waves vibrate your ears to serve as signals for your nerves. These are captured by tiny hair cells inside your ear canal and, at the end of this process, your brain recognizes sounds.

How can Earbuds cause problems?

Normally we not cover our earphones, so there is risks of contamination which may cause ear infection promoting hear loss. UV light of 250-270nm wavelength is effective disinfectant which is a part of sunlight. Long term use of ear buds cause increase ear temperature, humidity and darkness which facilitates the ear infection. Loud music volume affects your sensory ear cells that cause hear loss temporary or permanently.

How Damage can Control?

If you do decide to use earphones, try to limit your music’s volume to less than 85 decibels (dB). This level of sound is about the same as a lawnmower’s rumble, so imagine what that loud noise would do inside your ear. Take 15-minute breaks every few hours when using earphones for longer periods. Any prolonged exposure to high volume levels will gradually make your ear build more wax, which blocks your ear canal and stops sound waves from reaching your ear.

What are Symptoms of Damage?

Hearing loss can happen with almost no alarming symptoms, because often there’s no pain associated with it. There are some noticeable differences, as you will be unable to hear high-pitched sounds and it will be harder to understand speech in a crowd. Even if these symptoms go away, your inner ear might be already damaged and will continue to develop problems as you grow older.

What are Final Warnings?

By continuing to hear loud music through your earphones, you will not let your ears regenerate enough hair cells to recover lost ones. As time goes by, it will be difficult to hear ordinary sounds. Once that happens, you are on the path to significant hearing loss.

Some drugs that Promotes Hear loss

Drugs sometimes cause hearing loss. Intravenous antibiotics in the amino glycoside family are the drugs most commonly implicated, particularly when given in high doses. Some people have a rare hereditary disorder that makes them extremely susceptible to hearing loss caused by aminoglycosides. Other drugs include vancomycin, cancer chemotherapy drugs cisplatin and nitrogen mustard Hearing loss can be caused by aspirin (salicylate), but the hearing can come back when the drug is discontinued.

Sudden Deafness: Sudden deafness is deafness that occurs within minutes or over a few hours. It may be caused by something as trivial as wax accumulation or may be caused by head trauma, sudden changes in pressure (as occurs in airplanes), or internal pressure changes caused by severe straining (as may occur with weight lifting). Some infections, drugs, and disorders of the blood vessels to the ear can cause it as well.

Precautions: