Your earbuds and you: What all that listening is doing to us
May 21, 2024
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Exposure scientist Rick Neitzel and host Manoush Zomorodi discuss the impact of daily sound exposure and listening habits on our hearing. They explore future innovations in tech. Practical tips for safe listening and protecting our ears are shared.
Prolonged headphone use can lead to permanent hearing loss due to unsafe listening habits.
Implementing volume limits, taking breaks, and monitoring sound exposure levels are essential for preventing hearing damage.
Deep dives
Hearing Loss Risks from Headphone Usage
The World Health Organization predicts over one billion young adults are at risk of permanent avoidable hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices. Researchers estimate one in four individuals are exposed to excessive noise from personal listening devices. Exposure to loud noises can lead to headaches, trouble sleeping, and stress, with potential long-term hearing damage. Initiatives like the Apple Hearing Study aim to understand volume levels, duration of exposure, and environmental noise impact on hearing health.
Protecting Hearing Health
Research reveals that many individuals exceed safe noise levels from their environment, with about one in three participants exposed to unsafe noise levels. Implementing volume limits on devices and considering duration of exposure are recommended to protect ears. Features like noise-cancelling can reduce environmental noise impact, aiding in lowering listening volumes. Regular breaks from continuous listening and monitoring sound exposure levels are crucial for preventing hearing loss.
Future of Headphone Technology
Industry advancements in consumer 'hearables' include features like speech detection to pause audio when talking and sensors for brain activity monitoring. Concerns arise over potential data collection methods like interpreting brainwaves for various applications. Emerging devices include earbuds with AI bots for continuous conversations and enhanced hearing capabilities. Managing technological usage and being mindful of personal sound exposure play vital roles in preserving hearing health amidst evolving headphone innovations.
Many of us wear earbuds for hours at a time, sometimes all day long, and all that listening is taking a toll on our hearing. This episode, host Manoush Zomorodi investigates our headphone habits. She speaks with exposure scientist Rick Neitzel, who has partnered with Apple to create a first-of-its-kind study into how our daily sound exposure and listening patterns are affecting our hearing. Neitzel offers advice on safe listening habits that can help protect our ears in the long term.
Later, Manoush takes us into the future of "consumer hearables" and how tech companies want us to never — ever— take our earbuds out.
Interested in joining the Apple Hearing Study? Sign up here.