Harm of headphones for hearing and the human brain. Practical tips for choosing

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Headphones are one of the most common devices for listening to music for pleasure, long conversations while driving or other activities, to work with sound. The invention is not new, but it has only been widely used in the last few decades. How safe is their uncontrolled many hours of use for human he alth? Which models should be avoided and what harm can headphones do to a person?

Types of headphones

Progress in technology, which has entered into all spheres of human life, has also touched leisure. All headphones are designed to finally make it possible to immerse yourself in the exciting world of sounds, where and when you want. Miniature loudspeakers can be classified according to the proximity of the speaker to the auditory organ. Each model, of course, has both advantages and disadvantages.

Pills

Pills are used by the average smartphone owner, as they come with most smart phones. Have a standardshape and are kept in the auricle due to their special design, although the anatomical features of the structure of some ears do not allow them to be used at all. But this is more of an individual problem. Due to their small size and poor sound insulation, they are not able to provide good sound. Therefore, young people, being in noisy public places, such as in the subway, turn up the volume of their headphones. The harm from such actions, which lead to exceeding the permissible norms of 90 decibels, is inflicted steadily, day after day, which causes temporary hearing loss at first, and then more serious damage.

Of the "pros" we can note compactness, low price.

Of all manufacturers, only Apple stands out, whose engineers managed to get the most out of the capabilities of speakers of this size. They are able to give out a fairly wide frequency range of sound in order to enjoy your favorite pieces of music. But their price is strikingly different from their analogues, and not many people can afford them.

Vacuum

Vacuum earmuffs are designed to fit securely in the open ear canal and are equipped with silicone tips of different diameters. The device, which is tightly attached to the walls, prevents the penetration of sounds from the outside, which guarantees a high concentration of sound. The earbuds shoot sound waves directly into the bull's eye - the eardrum, causing irreparable damage to the hearing organs. Headphones of this type, despite the exhortations of experts, are gaining popularity, because both the price and efficiencybribe. Audiologists warn that this is the most harmful type of headphones. Their constant use in 5 years will lead to hearing pathologies.

In addition, according to statistics, more and more teenagers and adult music lovers in "bedbugs" become victims of road accidents, because, apart from hits and beats, they hear nothing, not even signals of approaching danger.

From the "pluses" we can note their hygiene. The nozzles are easy to wash and clean.

Invoices

These are literally superimposed on the ears and are attracted to them due to the attachment, located like a rim on the head or around the back of the head. The size of the membrane produces a sound signal that is quite voluminous. This makes them a little better than "earbuds", but not so much engineers are working on them for the sake of sound quality, but marketers are working on them to create a fashionable design. After all, this is a must have for young music lovers and gamers.

Suitable for listening to music on the player, tablet, computer and gamers.

Monitoring

These headphones are fully closed, partially closed and open. Completely closed, they capture the entire ear, snugly fitting. Sound engineers and music professionals simply need complete isolation from extraneous noise for better concentration at work.

It is believed that this type of device is the most sparing, since the sound wave, repeatedly reflected, hits the target in detours. There is minimal effect on tissuemembranes - unlike "earbuds", monitoring ones do not cause such serious harm to hearing. Open type headphones are suitable for enjoying your favorite tracks, surfing the Internet, watching videos at home.

The disadvantage is the large size and the inconvenience associated with increased sweating in the contact area with the device.

Wireless

Wired and wireless headphones are distinguished by the method of transmitting an audio signal. If everything is clear with wired ones (they transmit sound with high fidelity via wire), then wireless ones are connected to the sound source using a radio signal, an infrared port or a bluetooth channel.

Professional equipment for recording studios, for example, is made only with wires. And their "brothers" without visible attachments attract with mobility, but the sound quality leaves much to be desired. And you can't get far from the base - the range of action is small, it varies depending on the model.

Bluetooth headset

Increasingly, you can see passers-by scurrying through the streets, lively chatting under their breath. Talented inventors have provided everyone with a strange thing that will allow you to carelessly listen to music, talk, listen to messages without tangling wires, it became possible even to forget about the manner of pressing the receiver with your shoulder, risking dropping it every time. Bluetooth headphones are equipped with a microphone. They can be of several types: on both ears for listening to stereo and a mono earpiece for negotiations. Solid benefits!

But now everyone knows about the harmful effects of radiation coming from cell phones. So, maybe the harm from wireless headphones is also not fiction?

Effect of bluetooth radiation

According to numerous research data, there are facts proving that the radiation strength of the bluetooth signal is so meager that it cannot harm the human body. For example, radio waves used for data transmission belong to a special range, which is characterized by low amplitude, speed and energy consumption, which cannot somehow affect the user's well-being. The radiation power of the headset is 0.0025 W, and the power of the smartphone reaches 2 W. Such a huge difference in numbers allows you to exhale with relief and continue using the gadget, relying on scientifically proven data.

But the reviews of people who have used the headset almost for days on end are full of complaints of headaches, ulcers of unknown origin and hair loss on the side where the engineering product was attached, an irritable condition. In response to such unflattering and frightening reviews, experts explain that perhaps some of the problems are associated with the assumption of hygiene violations (accumulation of pathogenic microbes on the headset), and some with the influence of sounds that exceed the limits of the norm on the central nervous system, which, in turn, not without meaning.

The conclusion is obvious: the harm of bluetooth headphones is directly proportional to the duration of using the device and maintaining a safe volume level.

The effect of sound on hearing

How does loud music affect a person's hearing? For many teenagers, this is really a mystery.

Numerous experiments, studies and observations conducted by medical and scientific figures have shown that listening to loud music in headphones imperceptibly, slowly but surely worsens hearing acuity. The harm lies in the fact that by means of these devices the sound strikes the finely arranged organ of one of the human senses. The complex structure of the organ is adapted to protect against episodic sound attacks. The body itself is able to recover in a short time. But those who have accustomed themselves to hard rock or other compositions that are broadcast at a volume above 100 decibels will certainly face the irreversible transformation and death of most of the membrane cells and hair cells that cover the cochlea (organ of the inner ear). The process is irreversible and inevitably leads to hearing loss. At first, a person will stop hearing low-frequency sounds, hissing and whistling.

Scientists have also proven that earphones that are inserted into the ear and create a vacuum in the ear canal, causing dangerous pressure, are most harmful to he alth. The sound wave has a powerful effect on the eardrum, without encountering obstacles in the form of air in its path.

Constant presence of in-ear headphones in the ear canal provokes excessive wax production, resulting in the formation of plugs, which also affects hearing acuity.

Usually the beginning of natural age-related changes inthe functioning of the auditory organs for the worse falls on 40 years and later. But victims of high decibels have to get to know the problem at an earlier age. Moreover, patients are haunted by various sounds, such as ringing, which significantly impairs the quality of life.

The effect of sound on the central nervous system

Scientifically substantiated and the harm caused by headphones to the central nervous system. Dizziness, insomnia, headaches, migraines, fatigue, irritability are symptoms of CNS damage caused by prolonged exposure to noise of 60-90 decibels. Along with an increase in the volume in the headphones, there is an increase in the blood of such stress hormones as cortisol, adrenaline, which leads to serious physiological pathologies.

Loud high-pitched sounds like rock music cause sonic intoxication. Prolonged listening to heavy music causes mental disorders, lethargy and other negative effects on the body. The harm of headphones of any brand, even the most advanced, is enormous if you do not follow the basic rules.

Simple rules

• When at home, it's best to take the opportunity to listen to music without headphones.
• When sounds from the outside are amplified for some reason, do not turn up the volume in the headphones. It's addictive.
• If people around hear what sounds in the headphones, then the sound is too loud. Need to turn it down.
• It is better to use overhead models and no more than 5 hours a day, and if you really like inserts, thenminimize their use to an hour a day.
• You need to carefully choose the right accessory. The manufacturer must be known and trustworthy. It must be remembered that for too low a price, an unscrupulous seller is likely to offer a fake. You need to make sure the opposite is true so that the “freebie” does not affect your he alth - you can’t buy it for any money.

Undoubtedly, there are benefits and harms in using headphones. After all, no one argues with all the advantages of the gadget. But everything must be in moderation.

A person is designed so that if there is no visible damage and a sharp deterioration in well-being, he is inclined to abuse his addictions until it is too late. After all, hearing loss is a tragedy at worst, and discomfort and withdrawal from society at best.