In 2011, the New York City Department of Health conducted a study on noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in young adults. Of those who participated, 23% reported having hearing problems.
The cause? Listening to music through headphones (or ear buds) at an extraordinarily loud volume. The same adults who reported having hearing loss or tinnitus symptoms are those who admitted to listening to headphones at 90% of the volume at least five days a week, for four hours each day.
There is plenty of research on the topic of NIHL. All of it concludes that repeated exposure to loud sounds can potentially cause damage to the cells of the inner ear, resulting in permanent hearing loss and/or tinnitus.
The message? You may live in the “city that never sleeps,” but you need to allow your ears to rest. Employ the 60/60 rule: listen with headphones (or ear buds) at no higher than 60% of the volume, for only 60 minutes at a time.
If you think you already have hearing loss, schedule an appointment at one of our three New York City locations, in the Manhattan and Scarsdale areas.
