Not using phones. On commuter trains and buses, many young people can be seen wearing headphones and staring at their phones. On the streets, others walk while listening to music, enjoying the freedom of being "cut off from the world."
Regarding this, Wu Peina, Director of Otology at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital's ENT Department, cautions that while listening to music, audiobooks, or videos with headphones is enjoyable, neglecting proper precautions can lead to unnoticed damage to hearing. In severe cases, this may result in noise-induced hearing loss, causing premature deafness before old age—a consequence that demands vigilance.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Creeps Up Unnoticed
Director Wu Peina explains that data indicates average sound levels on subways can reach around 80dB, with recorded peaks as high as 106dB. To hear clearly over this noise, people often unconsciously turn up their headphone volume, causing irreversible damage to their hearing.
Wu Peina cautions that the ear is a highly delicate organ. Research data indicates: exposure to 85dB noise should not exceed 8 hours. For every 3dB increase, the safe exposure time halves—meaning 88dB should not exceed 4 hours, 91dB should not exceed 2 hours... and 109dB should not exceed 2 minutes. Exceeding these thresholds significantly increases the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
For instance, prolonged exposure to noisy environments like subways or karaoke bars can easily damage hearing. She shared a recent case: a 20-something office worker from Shenzhen sought treatment after spending nearly an entire night at a KTV with friends for a birthday celebration. Subsequently, he developed severe tinnitus and hearing loss. Examinations revealed bilateral high-frequency hearing loss, which had already caused irreversible damage, with medication proving ineffective.
Director Wu Peina emphasized that while individual noise tolerance thresholds vary, once noise-induced hearing loss occurs, it can become irreversible in some cases, leading to lifelong deafness—a risk that cannot be ignored.
Don't be careless! Using headphones to listen to soothing music for sleep
Many college students prefer wearing headphones to listen to music in their dorm rooms to aid sleep. Regarding this practice, Director Wu believes that generally, if the volume is controlled well, it has little impact on hearing. However, if the volume is unknowingly turned up due to a noisy external environment and listened to for a long time, it can still damage hearing—only this damage occurs silently while you sleep.She advises that the most critical factors when using headphones for sleep are volume control and duration, recommending no more than two consecutive hours of use. Additionally, headphones should be cleaned regularly, kept dry, and ideally not shared with others to prevent outer ear infections.
News Insight
What is Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?
This refers to slow, progressive sensorineural hearing loss caused by prolonged exposure to noise. Early symptoms include auditory fatigue, which may gradually improve after leaving the noisy environment. However, over time, recovery becomes difficult, eventually leading to sensorineural deafness. Besides damaging hearing, noise can also cause headaches, dizziness, insomnia, high blood pressure, and affect gastric motility and secretion.
Experts caution that discomfort in the ears, regardless of cause, should never be ignored. Symptoms like tinnitus, muffled sounds, or auditory fatigue may signal early ear damage. Seek prompt evaluation at a specialist clinic to prevent irreversible harm.
Noise-Induced Hearing Damage Scale
Decibel LevelSilence
Whispering
>dB Normal conversational sound
dB Sound of a passing car at 10 meters
dB Maximum noise level tolerable for humans, as determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
dB Prolonged exposure may cause hearing damage
Above this decibel level is very loud and begins to damage