Considerations for Headphone Use

Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Hospital ENT Specialist Op. Dr. K. Ali Rahimi shared information about hearing loss due to loud noise and the use of headphones. Noting that if the sound coming out of the headphones is not very loud, there is no case of damaging the ear, experts stated that the trauma due to acoustic and loud noise occurs at very high decibels such as 4 thousand Hertz.

Stating that noisy situations such as gun explosion and airplane take-off cause acoustic traumas, ENT Specialist Op. Dr. K. Ali Rahimi recommended using headphones to prevent hearing loss while these sounds are occurring.

Rahimi suggested that children should use soft-headed earphones and that the earphones should not be shared with other people if there is a fungal infection in the ear.

“Normal sound does not cause hearing loss”

Stating that the device called a headset is actually a simple speaker, Rahimi said, “If the sound coming out of this speaker is not very loud, there is no case of damaging the ear. Acoustic trauma and trauma due to loud noise occur at very high decibels. People cannot tolerate that sound and cannot listen to music that loud. Therefore, listening to loud music cannot cause any hearing loss within normal limits.” said.

Noting that noises that can cause hearing loss cause acoustic trauma, Rahimi said: gun explosions, the sound of aircraft taking off or working in noisy iron and steel factories. Hearing loss can be prevented if ear muffs are used while exposure situations occur. used the expressions

“Children should prefer soft-headed headphones”

Rahimi said that earmuffs can be used in children depending on the shape of the ear and in a way that does not damage the jaw joint.

“However, it will be healthier if the use of headphones takes place after the outer ear formation of the children is completed. It doesn't matter whether it's wireless or wired for ear health. It was not stated until this time that these headphones brought serious diseases in terms of health. However, since the anterior wall of the outer ear wall is the jaw joint, it will be more beneficial not to use earplugs that will restrict or damage the jaw movements, and to prefer soft-headed earphones if possible.

“Headphones disrupt external ear canal discharge”

Rahimi said that hearing loss can be seen at only 4 Hertz, but it is not a frequency that is used very much and concluded his words as follows:

“Therefore, people who are exposed to frequency loss due to high noise have a tinnitus problem in later ages. Plugged earplugs disrupt the flow of the external ear canal. Thus, earwax cannot flow out freely and accumulate inside. But more dangerous than this is the use of ear sticks. If the earwax attached to the earpiece cannot escape and becomes blocked, you should be examined by an otolaryngologist. The most important situation when using headphones is a fungal infection. If the fungal infection has infected the earphones, no one else should use the earphones. Headphones that close the pinna and do not block the canal can be used.”