precautions while using earphones

Many people find it difficult to believe that listening to music can be a hazard to hearing. But theres little evidence that loud music, however harmonious, is actually safer than unpleasant noise that would measure the same on a sound level meter. Even those who argue that music is safer than other noises would agree that if it is loud enough, and repeated often enough, music can damage hearing.

This requires a different technique from more usual sound level measurements. If you tried to measure the sound level from earphones with an ordinary sound level meter, you could get very different answers depending on exactly where you put the microphone and very likely none of them would be right!To measure an earphone properly, you have to put it on or in, an ear! Real ears vary between individuals, so in practice we use a standard artificial ear, called a coupler. This incorporates a microphone, which measures the sound level in a position corresponding to the eardrum in a real ear.

People who have to listen in a noisy environment, whether they are factory workers, sports commentators having to hear above the noise of a crowd, musicians trying to hear a backing track against the sound of a rock band, or camera operators trying to hear talkback at a live music event.
DJs and other performers. They may feel they need to hear music loudly because it gives them the buzz that helps them to do their job, or maybe they just like it loud. Maybe, even, they already have some noise induced hearing loss but unfortunately this doesnt protect against further damage.
People who have to listen on earphones for most or all of every working day, such as people working in call centres, or those working in the media who need to select or review material for programmes.

The BBC, which has a large and constantly changing variety of equipment fitted with earphone sockets, decided long ago that they would control earphone sound levels by using limiters, and set to work to design some.
Limiters based on the BBC designs are supplied by Canford Audio Ltd. There are three designs, each catering for a range of earphone sensitivities and impedances. The limiters fit in small plastic boxes which are connected in line in the headphone leads.
As an alternative, Canford have modified the design to fit inside the ear piece of the headphone, making a stronger and more tamper proof system. Several types of headphone are available with integral limiters.

After this article, you will definitely be scared of using earphones on regular basis. Then again, you will want to enjoy your favourite music and this is mandatory for some people as well. For all those addicted to earplugs, below are few tips which help them to stay away from dangerous health hazards while still enjoying using their earphones.Stop using stylish tiny earphones as they enter your ear canal directly. Use bigger headphones.You should always have your personal earphones. Do not share them, not even with family members.If your earphones have a rubber or sponge cover, then try changing them at least once in a month.Do not play music with loud sound. Try to keep it as low as possible.Avoid earphones when you are travelling as you will increase the volume due to the disturbing sounds around you and that proves harmful.Try to give rest to your ears once every 15 minutes.

Using earphones for hours at high volumes basically causes shock and awe to delicate hair like cells deep within the inner ear that help the brain process sound, says Ron Eavey, director of pediatric otolaryngology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. After years of abuse, those structures wont function anymore.

First of all, because earphones are situated right inside your ears, its fairly easy for them to cause damage to your hearing if you have them up to loud. In fact you can cause permanent damage to your ear drums, so its important to be careful.To avoid this problem its a good idea to use the right kind of gadget. If you have a phone then it will often come up with a warning when you turn your music up too loud, and you should make sure to heed this warning and take it seriously. If you dont get such a precaution then you should consider installing an app which will do the same thing for you.

You also need to realize that having headphones in can make you less aware of your surroundings and this makes you more likely to have accidents. You need to avoid this possibility by keeping your headphones out if you are going to be crossing the road etc. especially if they are noise cancelling headphones. On a train its fine, but when youre walking to the station you need to be more careful and you shouldnt listen while driving.

Due to adverse effect of outside or inside the ear part, the level of hearing decrease. The eardrum becomes weak. The inner part affects the ear cells. This happens due to loud music, disease, infection or ageing.

The symptoms are not clear. So, this problem cannot know easily. If you cannot listen properly in ballyhoo or if you cannot listen in normal talk or somebody says you are watching TV on loud voice then your level of hearing decrease.