How use of earphones can be harmful

Earphones hold a lot of attraction for many people these days, particularly the youth.  It is also a handy tool for journalists when transcribing interviews and events. But just like most people who use it to listen to music, and lectures , they do so at such high volumes that they are completely oblivious of […]

Earphones hold a lot of attraction for many people these days, particularly the youth.  It is also a handy tool for journalists when transcribing interviews and events. But just like most people who use it to listen to music, and lectures , they do so at such high volumes that they are completely oblivious of what goes on around them, and the damage they are doing to their ears.
For some people, the use of ear phones is an obsession, as it is in their ears everywhere they go; while walking on the street, eating, working in the office to even crossing main roads!
Nurses at the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) section of the Maitama General Hospital have warned that the use of ear phones can damage the inner ear.
Speaking while educating outpatients in the general Out Patients Department (OPD) of the hospital, they advised that its use can be gradually stopped.
Medical experts say many don’t know that they are damaging their hearing by listening to music through earphones at high volume for just an hour every day.
According to hearing specialist, Dr David A. Schessel, the amount of hearing loss that one will suffer is related both to the volume, measured in decibels (dB), and the duration of time that one is exposed to the sound, adding that sound at 85 dB or below is considered safe.
If one is exposed to sounds greater than 90 dB for an average of eight hours per day without hearing protection, hearing loss will most likely result. As the volume increases, the safe time of exposure decreases.
He tells parents: “If you can hear the music your child/teenager is playing through their headphones or earphones, it means the sound is too loud and can lead to permanent hearing loss.”
“A loud blast or loud music exposure to the ear can break the ossicles which are in the middle part of the ear or can even cause perforation of the ossicles which may result to hearing impairment,” warns an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist,  Dr Ng’ang’a Mburu.
 “The external part of the ear is also at risk for those who like sharing earphones. This is capable in cases where one user has skin infection or skin rash to easily spread disease,” he said.