Saving Yourself From Hearing Loss

Think hearing loss is only a problem for senior citizens? That kind of thinking could cost you your hearing. One in five teens has some form of hearing loss, according to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

Media players are capable of producing as much sound as a live rock concert — about 120 decibels of sound. That's loud enough to cause hearing loss after just an hour and 15 minutes. A lot of people listen to headphones for much longer than that.

That doesn't mean you have to stop enjoying your favorite tunes and podcasts. If you're listening on headphones, prevent hearing loss by:

Choosing the right fit. Select headphones that fit over the ear instead of the earbud style. Earbuds rest in the ear close to the eardrum, where loud noises can cause permanent damage.

Moderating the volume. Just because the volume can go up, doesn't mean it should. The AOA recommends listening to music and other audio at 60 percent or less of the player's maximum volume, and only listening for 60 minutes a day. If you want to listen to something louder, reduce the amount of time you listen accordingly.

Canceling noise. Use noise-canceling headphones. It may sound counter intuitive, but the less background noise you hear, the less likely you are to turn up the volume.

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