Experts Warn About Hearing Risks from Headphone Use

Dr. Tatiana Feldbosh, a specialist in ear, nose, and throat diseases, has stated that using headphones to listen to loud music for extended periods can cause damage to the ears.

She explained that the risk of hearing loss and tinnitus exists with both wired and wireless headphones. Health effects tend to appear when music is played at volumes exceeding 85 decibels, especially in noisy environments such as public transportation, airplanes, and gyms.

To mitigate this risk, Dr. Feldbosh recommends following the "60/60 rule," which involves listening to music through headphones for no more than 60 continuous minutes and keeping the volume at or below 60% of the maximum level.

She added that if a person must use headphones for longer durations, it is safer to use large over-ear headphones or noise-canceling models, as these reduce the need to increase the volume to excessively high levels.

Additionally, Dr. Dmitry Gurin, another ear, nose, and throat specialist, advises limiting headphone listening sessions to no more than two continuous hours. He suggests starting at a low volume and gradually increasing it to a comfortable level. If a listener cannot hear others around them while using headphones, they should lower the volume.