- In the context of World Hearing Day, which is commemorated on Sunday, March 3, specialists from the Ribera group recall that the WHO estimates that half of people between 12 and 35 years old use electronic devices (MP3, mobile phones and others) to unsafe levels in middle- and high-income countries
- They recommend the 60-60 rule, that is, do not use these devices for more than 60 minutes or exceed 60% of the volume, avoid strong or constant exposure, use protection and mobile applications with a sound level meter, do not put anything in your ears and go to a specialist. if there is hearing loss, noise or blockage
Valencia, March 1, 2024 – Specialists in Otorhinolaryngology of the health group Ribera warn about the consequences of a habit that is increasingly widespread among adolescents and young people and the adult population in general: the use of headphones. “The habit of listening to music with headphones, along with attending concerts and entertainment venues with loud music, is currently the main cause of disorders caused by noise in young people,” explains Dr. Roberto Valdés, head of the Hospital Otorhinolaryngology Service Ribera Povisa (Vigo). Dr. Lorena Sanz, head of the same service at the Torrejón University Hospital. “Exposure to intense noise, whether occasional, but at high intensities, such as explosions or gunshots, or frequent at moderate intensities, such as discos, concerts, work environments or prolonged use of headphones, can reduce hearing, even to the point of need hearing aids,” he says.
In the context of World Hearing Day, which is commemorated next Sunday, specialists from the Ribera health group warn about the abuse of these devices. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that half of people between 12 and 35 years old use electronic devices at unsafe levels, especially in middle- and high-income countries. And based on these data, the Spanish Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (SEORL-CCC) predicts that half of Spanish adolescents and young people will suffer hearing loss or tinnitus due to exposure to noise. Dr. Sanz explains that, in addition to hearing loss, patients can suffer other consequences as a result of this type of exposure: noise in the ears, limitation in daily life due to difficulty understanding or orienting the origin of sounds. or the alteration of the sounds heard. Additionally, she explains the difference between hearing loss and deafness. “Hypoacusis is the decrease in hearing capacity, at different levels, from mild to severe; and deafness or cophosis is the loss of hearing capacity or a very severe decrease in it.”
The limits of noise
Dr. Valdés, for his part, insists on the importance of preventing this type of voluntary exposure to noise. “Injury to the inner ear can cause permanent hearing loss,” he says, while remembering that “when exposure to noise deteriorates the hair cells of the inner ear, the damage suffered is permanent and these cells can no longer recover.” . In his opinion, in the case of music players “the ideal would be to apply the 60-60 rule, that is, not to use them for more than 60 minutes a day and not to exceed 60% of the volume allowed by them” .
But what is the maximum volume at which we should listen to music or other content with headphones? “To guarantee good health, it is recommended not to exceed 65 dB of sound intensity,” explains the head of Otorhinolaryngology at Ribera Povisa. “Exposure to a sound greater than 85 dB poses a risk of hearing loss, if repeated over time; and exposure to 80 dB for more than 8 hours a day requires the use of hearing protection to not be harmful. Above 100 dB there is a risk of immediate hearing loss and the pain threshold reaches when 125 dB is exceeded,” he says.
Symptoms and recommendations
Paula Hernández and Francisco J. Rodríguez, otorhinolaryngologists at the hospital Virgin of Charity River, explain that “in the initial stages of hearing loss, when it is progressive, we may not notice the hearing loss.” “As the loss increases, the signs of hearing loss become more noticeable, you have difficulty perceiving sounds, leading to not hearing the least intense ones or finding it difficult to understand words or hearing sounds in a distorted way,” they explain. These are some of the first symptoms to go to a specialist. “These difficulties often translate into actions such as turning up the volume on the television or radio too much or finding it difficult to follow a conversation on the phone,” they explain.
Another common symptom that most often underlies hearing damage can be tinnitus or tinnitus, “which is a perception of noise in the ear in the form of ringing, whistling, humming or roaring without an external source producing it.” , point out the specialists from Ribera Virgen de la Caridad. “Less known and much less frequent, instability and dizziness are described as symptoms,” they add.
The specialists of the Ribera group give the following recommendations for hearing health care:
- Avoid sustained exposure to intense noise.
- Do not listen to music at high volumes: it is recommended not to exceed 65 decibels of sound intensity.
- Limit listening time at high volumes.
- Use hearing protection in the work environment if necessary.
- Do not put anything in your ears (including cotton swabs).
- Move away from noise sources, such as speakers in entertainment venues.
- Try not to generate noise that disturbs others.
- Go to the doctor if you notice hearing loss, noises or a sensation of blockage.
