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Turn It Down!

Be careful! Your headphones could be damaging your hearing.

As You Read: Identify how to set a safe volume on your headphones.

Chances are you’ve worn headphones more times than you can count. You might not crank up the volume to the highest level. But listen up! Hearing experts say you’re probably still playing your music or video games too loud. 

A 2022 study found something that supports that idea. More than 1 billion teens and young adults worldwide could be at risk of hearing loss. One big reason is the growing popularity of earbuds and headphones. 

Still, many kids don’t think they need to worry about protecting their hearing. 

“One myth about hearing loss is that only older people like grandma and grandpa get it. That’s not the case,” says Dr. Michele DiStefano.

DiStefano and other experts say there are some simple steps you can take to help protect your ears.

How many times have you worn headphones? It’s probably more than you can count. You might not crank up the volume to the highest level. But listen up! Hearing experts say you’re probably still playing music or video games too loud. 

A study done in 2022 supports that idea. More than 1 billion teens and young adults worldwide could be at risk of hearing loss. One big reason is the growing popularity of earbuds and headphones. 

Still, many kids don’t think they need to worry about protecting their hearing. 

“One myth about hearing loss is that only older people like grandma and grandpa get it. That’s not the case,” says Dr. Michele DiStefano.

DiStefano and other experts say you can take some simple steps to help protect your ears.

Sound Check

This chart shows the decibel (dB) levels of some common sounds.

This chart shows the decibel (dB) levels of some common sounds.

140 dB: Jet aircraft taking off from 100 feet away 

140 dB: Jet aircraft taking off from 100 feet away 

120 dB: Nearby siren

120 dB: Nearby siren

110 dB: Maximum volume on a smartphone

110 dB: Maximum volume on a smartphone

100 dB: Football game in a stadium

100 dB: Football game in a stadium

85 dB: Risk of hearing damage starts here.

85 dB: Risk of hearing damage starts here.

80 dB: Hair dryer

80 dB: Hair dryer

60 dB: Normal conversation

60 dB: Normal conversation

30 dB: Soft whisper

Note: Decibel levels are approximate. Sources: Center for Hearing and Communication, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

30 dB: Soft whisper

Note: Decibel levels are approximate. Sources: Center for Hearing and Communication, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Too Loud, Too Long?

Sound is measured in units called decibels (see the sidebar “Sound Check”). Experts say that listening to any sound louder than 85 decibels for long periods of time can cause hearing damage. 

The 2022 study showed that young people often listen to devices at 105 decibels. Listening to sounds that loud for even a few minutes a day can harm your ears. 

Doctors say that for many people, hearing loss happens slowly over time. So people often don’t realize there’s a problem until it’s too late. Listening to loud music for prolonged periods can cause permanent hearing loss. 

Sound is measured in units called decibels (see the sidebar “Sound Check”). Experts say that listening to sounds louder than 85 decibels for long periods of time is bad for you. It can cause hearing damage. 

The 2022 study showed that young people often listen to devices at 105 decibels. Listening to sounds that loud for just a few minutes a day can harm your ears. 

Doctors say that for many people, hearing loss happens slowly over time. People often don’t realize there’s a problem until it’s too late. Listening to loud music for prolonged periods can cause permanent hearing loss. 

Pause and Think

What are two ways you can protect your hearing? 

What are two ways you can protect your hearing? 

Sound Advice

Don’t panic! You can often prevent hearing damage. Doctors say a good way is to be smart about using headphones. Here are some tips.

Ask a friend. “If somebody else can hear your music from your headphones, then that means it’s too loud,” explains DiStefano. 

Don’t panic! You can often prevent hearing damage. Doctors say you need to be smart about using headphones. Here are some tips.

Ask a friend. DiStefano explains that if somebody else can hear music from your headphones, it’s too loud.

Check your settings. Most devices allow you to set how high the volume can go. On an iPhone, for example, the volume can be set to not go above 75 decibels. 

Devices can also let you know you’re exposed to a loud sound for too long. A parent can help you find these settings. 

Check your settings. Most devices allow you to set how high the volume can go. On an iPhone, for example, the volume can be set to not go above 75 decibels. 

Devices can also let you know you’re exposed to a loud sound for too long. A parent can help you find these settings. 

Find the right fit. Headphones that fit snugly will limit outside noise. That allows you to hear your music better at lower volumes.

Take a break. Like every other part of your body, your ears need rest. DiStefano likes the 60/60 rule. That means playing your device at or below 60 percent of maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes per day. Then let your ears enjoy the quiet.

Take a break. Your ears are just like every other part of your body. They need rest. DiStefano likes the 60/60 rule. That means playing your device at or below 60 percent of maximum volume. Do this for no more than 60 minutes per day. Then let your ears enjoy the quiet.

5 Steps to Hearing

All sounds are made up of vibrations called sound waves that pass through the air. This diagram shows how the ear turns sound waves into signals your brain can understand.

All sounds are made up of vibrations called sound waves that pass through the air. This diagram shows how the ear turns sound waves into signals your brain can understand.

Step 1: Like a funnel, the outer ear guides sound waves into the ear canal to the eardrum. 

Step 2: Sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate, like a drum.  

Step 3: The eardrum sends vibrations to three tiny bones—the malleus, incus, and stapes. Their movement increases the vibrations of the sound waves.

Step 4: The waves are sent to the cochlea. Little hairs in the cochlea vibrate and turn the sound waves into signals that get sent to the brain.  

Step 5: The brain receives these signals and turns them into sounds we recognize. 

Step 1: Like a funnel, the outer ear guides sound waves into the ear canal to the eardrum. 

Step 2: Sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate, like a drum.  

Step 3: The eardrum sends vibrations to three tiny bones—the malleus, incus, and stapes. Their movement increases the vibrations of the sound waves.

Step 4: The waves are sent to the cochlea. Little hairs in the cochlea vibrate and turn the sound waves into signals that get sent to the brain.  

Step 5: The brain receives these signals and turns them into sounds we recognize. 

  1. What does the article describe as a myth about hearing loss? What makes it a myth?
  2. Why do doctors say it is important to find the right fit for headphones?
  3. What is the purpose of the sidebar “Sound Check”? 
  1. What does the article describe as a myth about hearing loss? What makes it a myth?
  2. Why do doctors say it is important to find the right fit for headphones?
  3. What is the purpose of the sidebar “Sound Check”? 
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