Often Use Earphones? This Is The Bad Impact On Ear Health

The photo archive - Officers paired hearing devices (head speakers) to check the health of students' hearing at SDIT Nurul Fikri, Tulungagung. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The habit of listening to audio via earphones has now become an integral part of everyday life for many people, from teenagers to adults.

However, the use of personal audio devices for a long duration and at high volume can have a negative impact on ear health, regardless of age.

According to Dr. dr. Fikri Mirza Putranto, Sp.THT(K), an ear specialist, nose, throat, head and neck doctor from the University of Indonesia Hospital, the long-term use of earphones has the potential to cause inflammation due to damage to hair cells in the inner ear.

These hair cells play a role in converting sound vibrations into electric signals sent to the brain to translate as sound.

"If the ears continue to receive exposure to loud noises, then the nerves attached to the hair cells can burst, and this can result in the ability of the ears to recognize the sound in detail being disturbed," explained dr. Fikri in an online health discussion from Jakarta, as quoted by ANTARA.

He added that the ears have a system that can distinguish between the sound they want to hear and the background sound. However, when a person is used to listening to music through the earphone with a loud voice, the brain does not reject the sound because it considers it fun. This is what causes the damage to occur quietly and often without realizing it.

The risk of hearing loss due to the use of personal audio devices such as earphones can reach 23 percent, or one in four people. However, due to its gradual nature, most people did not feel any complaints at the beginning, "said Fikri.

To reduce this risk, he suggests a time limit for voice exposure based on noise levels. For example, 85 votes (equivalent to busy traffic) should be limited to eight hours, while 95 votes (such as blenders) can only be heard for four hours. 115-120 voice exposures such as music concerts should even be limited to no more than 15 minutes.

With the increasing use of earphones in various ages, it is important to be wiser in regulating the duration and volume of their use. Using headphones with volume barrier features, and taking breaks to rest your ears, can be a simple step to keep hearing healthy throughout your life.