Headphones are great for listening to
music so as to not disturb other
people around you. Headphones are
also used with telephones for a hands-
free talking. Many benefits can be
gained by the use of headphones, but
the down side to headphones is the
health risks that are associated with
headphone usage.
Damage to the hair cells in the inner
ear are one health risk associated
with headphones. Loud and excessive
noise directly in contact with the ear
damages the hair cells in the inner ear
causing permanent hearing loss.
Tumors are another health risk
associated with the excessively loud
noise of headphones. A study published
by the Journal of Epidemiology found
that several years of being exposed to
dangerously loud noise increased a
person's risk of developing a tumor
that could result in hearing loss. The
tumor is slow growing and will over
time put pressure on the cranial
nerve. The cranial nerve is what
senses sound and aids in balance.
Heart Attacks have been associated
with high levels of noise , such as that
produced by headphone usage. The
European Heart Journal published a
study showing that high levels of noise
increases a person's chances of
having a heart attack.
High blood pressure is also linked to
loud and excessive noise. A study done
by University of Michigan researchers
found that blood pressure was
affected by overall noise exposure.
Peaks in noise levels were found to
affect a person's heart rate.
With loud noises being associated with
earbuds or headphones that are
attached to MP3 players, Ipods and
other media devices, younger people
are at risk of future problems.
Experts recommend that if you are
going to use headphones that you do
not exceed 60 percent of the potential
volume. Anything more than 60
percent and in excessive of one hour a
day is considered excessive and
recommended against by experts.
Headphone manufactures have tried
to invent safer headphones. One
safety measure was a safety
circuitry that would limit the output
volume or give a warning when
dangerous levels of volume was used.
These safety measures were rejected
by the majority of consumers. The
reason for the rejection was the
majority of consumers preferred
personal choice of volume levels.
One such invention was the Safelite
line of cassette players produced by
Koss in 1983. The Safelite had a
warning light that would notify the
user when volume levels were
becoming dangerous. The Safelite line
was discontinued after only two years
because of a lack of interest from
consumers.