Audio News

Typically we report on the latest trendsetting audio devices, including the best, and clearest sounding headphones. However, today an Australian study has caused us not to focus on making the sound as full-bodied and loud as possible, but rather to take a look at the negative effects, if any, of listening to music with headphones. The report asserts that over 70% of Australia’s population of young adults has developed the early warning signs of hearing loss and attributes this loss foremost to listening to loud music with headphones. More symptoms of hearing loss were actually catalogued in the younger adults, than among older people, which naturally lead the researchers to view headphones as responsible for the anomaly. Does this mean that headphones are inherently unsafe and that we should all purchase portable speakers for our MP3 players? Of course not, but the study does recommend setting the headphone volume at safe levels, with over 50% of the study’s respondents already setting their volume above this safe level.

The study was conducted by the Australian Hearing health organisation and used 1,000 participants to come to its conclusions with ages of 18-34. While it is never too late to stop afflicting more harm, hearing damage is non-reversible and non-repairable, contrary to the beliefs of many young Australians. The research team also suggest many of the affected might be permanently damaged. This misconception likely occurs because even though someone might temporarily lose their hearing, it generally comes back quickly enough. So what exactly is a safe volume for listening to music with headphones? According to Australian Hearing ambassador Dr. John D’Arcy, it is a level where you can still hear someone at arms length without them having to shout. Of course, this safety definition might be slight problematic with noise-cancelling headphones.