{"id":4828,"date":"2019-12-06T09:35:44","date_gmt":"2019-12-06T17:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/houseprovidence.org\/?p=4828"},"modified":"2019-12-06T09:35:44","modified_gmt":"2019-12-06T17:35:44","slug":"noise-cancelling-headphones-can-protect-against-hearing-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/househearing.com\/noise-cancelling-headphones-can-protect-against-hearing-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Noise-Cancelling Headphones Can Protect Against Hearing Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hearing loss<\/a> is a widespread concern in Los Angeles and across Southern California. Contrary to popular belief, it isn\u2019t confined to senior citizens; people can develop a hearing impairment at any age\u2014especially if they are exposed to frequent noise.<\/p>\n

Listening to Music Safely<\/h2>\n

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What causes hearing loss?<\/h3>\n

The world is a noisy place. It\u2019s no wonder hearing loss is considered a global epidemic! There are many factors that contribute to hearing impairment, including age, disease, trauma and certain drugs, but noise<\/a><\/strong> is the most frequent cause of hearing loss in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

How does noise damage hearing?<\/h4>\n

Noise pollution<\/a> is inescapable in our daily lives. Busy traffic, airplanes, construction, lawn mowers and leaf blowers all contribute.<\/p>\n

Over time, noise damages the tiny hair cells of the cochlea that are responsible for converting sounds into electrical signals<\/strong> that are sent to the brain for processing. Sounds that exceed 85 decibels (dB) can cause irreversible damage; the louder the sound, the more quickly these cells will be destroyed.<\/p>\n

Does loud music harm hearing?<\/h3>\n

Music is one of the most common causes of hearing loss<\/strong>, especially in teenagers and young adults. We\u2019re not just referring to concerts, either; the simple act of listening to music through earbuds or headphones on smart devices and computers can be harmful.<\/p>\n

How long can you safely listen to music?<\/h2>\n

You can listen to music at 85 dB for eight hours without harm<\/strong>, but every 3-decibel increase in volume cuts your safe exposure time in half. Raising the volume to 94 dB reduces the length of time you can listen without harm to one hour, and at 100 dB\u2014a pretty slight adjustment\u2014damage can occur in as little as 15 minutes.<\/p>\n

People who listen through earbuds or headphones tend to keep raising the volume level to compensate for external noise; when listening to music on a regular basis, it doesn\u2019t take long for their hearing to be affected.<\/p>\n

How can you prevent music-related hearing loss?<\/h3>\n

The best solution to the problem is noise-cancelling headphones<\/strong>. These devices block out background noise<\/strong>, allowing you to listen to music at a lower volume<\/strong>. You won\u2019t find yourself raising the volume in gradual increments to offset background noise because you won\u2019t be able to hear any other sounds. In the long run, this helps preserve your hearing.<\/p>\n

What are your noise-canceling headphone options?<\/h2>\n

The question is, what kind of noise-cancelling headphones should you invest in? There are two different types:<\/p>\n