There’s no doubt that digital life has changed the sounds that we hear throughout the day. When you compare modern living to the experiences that people had 100 years ago, it’s a whole different lifestyle. Every day, we are living with constant notifications, nonstop streaming, and earbuds always in.
While there are many benefits to always being connected, the reality is that this digital world can take a toll on your hearing. In the past, hearing loss was most common for people working with heavy machinery or attending a lot of loud concerts. Now, hearing loss often happens quietly, through small, daily habits and activities.
Modern technology makes it an amazing time to be alive! At the same time, we are seeing changes in the way technology-related hearing loss is affecting society as a whole. More young adults (and even teens) are showing early signs of hearing issues, particularly because of their tech habits.
But the good news is that awareness is the first step to protecting your hearing. The seemingly small changes that you make right now can have an undeniable impact on your hearing in the future.
There are many devices that we love, but they might be causing damage that we don’t notice until it’s too late. Some of the modern technologies that could be impacting your hearing include:
Earbuds and Headphones: When there is constant, direct noise coming into the ear canal, it could be impacting your hearing. These headphones are louder than most people realize, which is why it’s essential to keep the volume low.
Smartphones and Tablets: How often are you streaming movies, scrolling social media videos, or gaming online? These activities are often done at unsafe volume levels, which can impact your hearing.
Smart Home Devices: There are other noises that might be coming through and affecting your ears, including alarms, timers, and notifications. These sounds can be sudden and sharp and are often too loud.
Virtual Meetings: As more teams are working remotely, it means that employees are spending more time with headphones in while attending long Zoom calls. These meetings could be contributing to hidden hearing stress.
While all of these things might seem small and insignificant, the real threat with digital sound exposure is the cumulative effect. When you are constantly exposed to these noises, it can definitely take a toll over time.
How often do you turn up the TV or music just a little louder? While a small increase in volume might seem insignificant, it’s likely that your settings continue to creep up over time.
Here’s what you need to understand: your ears adapt to the loudness. So, even if your volume preferences feel “normal,” you might be consuming digital content at an unsafe level.
In fact, many of the streaming platforms normalize higher volumes. Movies, TV shows, podcasts, and music are mixed in a way that is punchy and loud – with the goal of enhancing the experience for the viewers and listeners.
Also, when you are consuming digital content in noisy environments, then it’s common to turn up the volume even more: public transportation, gyms, cafes, etc. People are always connected everywhere they go, and the volume tends to get cranked up even more when using devices in public.
The real danger is that you don’t notice the discomfort or hearing loss until it’s too late. Once you realize that you need the volume to be higher in order to hear something clearly, then it’s likely that the damage has already been done and your hearing has been affected.
In the same way that you brush your teeth daily and maintain healthy habits, it’s important to consider how you are proactively protecting your ears. Sound hygiene refers to the way you manage sound exposure to reduce the risk of hearing loss.
Regardless of your age or the current state of your hearing, these tips can help you maintain the best hearing quality now and in the future:
60/60 Rule: Always keep the volume at 60% or less, and don’t listen for more than 60 minutes at a time.
Noise-Canceling Headphones: Even though they are a little more expensive, noise-canceling headphones are worth the investment because of the way they protect your hearing. A good set of headphones makes it easier to lower the volume that is needed because they help to reduce background noise.
Take Breaks: If you are listening to something, then take a break every hour. Pause the show or music and give your ears a break for at least 5 minutes.
Adjust Notifications: Make adjustments to your phone settings to decrease notification sounds and lower the volume for any alerts that are coming through on all of your devices.
Honor Safe Listening Settings: Have you ever noticed that your devices have safe listening limits built in? These limits should be honored. If a notification pops up, then don’t override the warning by turning up the volume beyond that point.
Content Matters: Not all sounds are created equal. Limit your time listening to loud and intense music, action movies, and gaming content. When you are consuming these types of media, then adjust the volume accordingly.
Remember that seemingly small and simple changes in your daily habits can have a significant impact over time. Consistency matters when it comes to protecting your hearing.
You might not notice a little bit of hearing loss today, but these issues can definitely snowball over the years. Taking a proactive approach with your habits right now is the best thing that you can do to invest in healthy hearing in the future.
Keep in mind that once hearing is lost, it can’t be fully restored – so prevention is everything!
If you have already experienced hearing loss, then we can help with hearing aids and other devices. But these don’t “cure” your hearing loss. Instead, they help you live a more normal life after hearing loss has occurred.
When was the last time you had your hearing checked? Whether you suspect hearing loss or you want to be proactive about preventing issues in the future, our team at Fairfax Hearing Center is here to help. Contact us to schedule a consultation.
