As the world observes International Noise Awareness Day on April 30, experts in Bengaluru have sounded a clarion call to be aware of the frequently overlooked risk of ear damage from headphones and earphones.
Devices such as earbuds and headphones play sound that ranges up to 130 dB in volume — something equivalent to being at live concerts and traffic intersections, says Varshini Ramdas, an assistant professor at the Department of Hearing Studies at the Dr S R Chandrasekhar Institute of Speech and Hearing in Bengaluru.
“Regular exposure to anything above 70 decibels for extended periods is known to harm hearing over time. Long exposure to high volumes of sound can cause irreversible inner ear damage, with early symptoms which include ringing of the ears, muffled sounds, headaches, and a feeling of ‘blocked’ ears, which are often ignored,” Ramdas explains.
The Dr S R Chandrasekhar Institute of Speech and Hearing in Bengaluru has been assessing the dangers from the sound output of personal listening devices using a specially designed mannequin called ‘Karna’, which measures “the output levels of personal listening devices”.
“The mannequin’s ear replicates the dimensions of a real human ear. We first connect our headphones and adjust them to our usual listening volume, then place the headphones or earbuds on the mannequin’s ear. This setup is linked to a sound level meter, which indicates our listening volume. This approach helps us determine whether our listening levels are safe or hazardous,” says Subhashini D, assistant professor at the institute.
The mannequin was inspired by the American mannequin ‘Jolene’ which was used for measuring the sound levels of personal stereo systems. “We wanted something indigenous, that’s why we built this mannequin,” she said.
A recent study showed that 23.8% of urban youth worldwide use personal listening devices for 40 hours a week at unsafe levels of sound, the institute has recently said in a statement.
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“Prolonged exposure to loud sound could have some psychological effects such as negative mood, reduced attention span, and mental fatigue,” says Ramdas.
The institute advises people to keep volume levels under 60 per cent of the maximum, limit usage time, and opt for over-the-ear headphones instead of earbuds. It advocates for ‘quiet time’ to allow the ears and mind to recover from sensory fatigue.
“But our ears, like the rest of our body, need rest to recover from sensory fatigue. Learning to be comfortable with silence — while reading, walking, or simply being still — can help restore balance, fostering both mental clarity and hearing protection,” Ramdas said.
(Brinda Srinivasa is an intern with The Indian Express)
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