Hearing loss usually occurs between the ages of 50 and 60. But the intensive use of headphones greatly increases the risk of hearing loss. Because deafness is a serious health problem, Apple provides AirPods users with a tool to monitor the noise level of their headphones..
Control the listening level and its duration
Headphones have become the essential accessory for connected urban residents. With the democratization of smartphones and the proliferation of models, the use of headphones has become commonplace.
But beware, wearing a helmet considerably increases the risk of prolonged overexposure to loud sounds. The dangers to the eardrums are real. When the intensity of the noise exceeds the listening capacity of the ears, we see various symptoms appear, such as tinnitus or hypersensitivity to sounds..
To avoid causing permanent damage to your ears, Apple has just launched a new function capable of monitoring the sound level of your headphones and in particular the AirPods. The latter will record the loudness (in decibels) emitted by your headphones as well as the duration of exposure.
And don't think it's just a gadget. On a daily basis, most iPhone owners exceed 3 hours of cumulative listening per day. Even more serious, the sound volume used greatly exceeds the threshold recommended by the WHO (World Health Organization)..
As an example, the sound level of an office oscillates between 50 and 70 decibels. The maximum sound volume of a headset is around 100 Db (equivalent to the noise generated by a jackhammer). Listening to music at this volume may damage or even destroy the sensory cells of hearing. As a reminder, the danger threshold for the ear starts at 85 decibels.
Control the sound level of your headphones via your iPhone
One of the biggest risks to your ears is volume. A law also imposes on helmet manufacturers a limit of 100 decibels. But listening time also plays a crucial role in hearing loss. With the Health app on your iPhone, you will be able to better monitor the volume levels of your headphones
- Open the Health app on your iPhone
- Click on the browse section then on audition
- On this window, you will find the sound level of the headphones in the past 7 days but also in the last 12 months
- If your hearing assessment does not pose any problems, you will see the mention Ok. Otherwise, it is the noisy mention that will appear on the screen of your iPhone
- By clicking on one of the two headings, you will be able to consult your exposure to noise according to the time of day.
Whatever the results, be careful not to exceed 45 minutes of continuous listening. Beyond this limit you risk damaging your hearing. So remember to limit the listening time and in case of ear pain, lower the tone.
The longer you listen, the more likely you are to experience tinnitus, wheezing and other problems related to exposure to high volume. Remember that prolonged and repeated exposure to high volume can cause irreversible damage to your hearing. For information, AirPods can be transformed into a hearing aid system.
