At our ENT parents asking questions about how dangerous it is for children to be using headphones, but we also hear patients around the age of 40 complaining of annoying whistling in the ears and difficulties communicating with colleagues in a noisier environment. There simply is a lot daily noise these days. And it can cause considerable problems.
Modern times bring to life many conveniences and good helpers, such as quality headphones for listening to music, cars and motorcycles, home robots, hands free devices, but also chainsaws, drills, mowers and garden blowers. They are good helpers, but at the same time they produce constant noise attacking our ears. Another issue is the current lifestyle. Many of us work while sitting at a computer, behind the wheel of a car, or at a cash register or in plant operation. This affects the cervical spine and causes the muscles of the neck reflex in contraction when supplying blood through the vessels into the brain, and thus the inner ear. Few people are lucky enough to have a healthy job as a bicycle messenger or gardener. However, even in these professions there is constant exposure to noise from the environment.
Listener and conductor
It is not uncommon for a patient to come to the outpatient clinic and complain of worse hearing, saying that she can stand a demolition hammer only for a few minutes. When asked if she uses any hearing protection, she answers that it takes only a few minutes, so it is not necessary. Sometimes, however, even a doctor learns something new, for example during a conversation with a conductor who suffers from whistling in his ear. We listeners perceive classical music as a pleasant affair, but from where the conductor stands the intensity of the music is around 100 dB.
Two minutes of chainsaw
For all these reasons, it is important to be aware of the permissible daily noise doses (according to the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). The limit for exposure to unprotected hearing at a noise intensity of 85 dB is 8 hours, which is the intensity somewhere between a vacuum cleaner and a lawn mower. The fan emits noise of around 50 dB, air conditioning or a regular phone call 65 dB, city traffic about 78 dB, but for example the drill is already 95 dB and the motorcycle even 100 dB. At a rock concert, you are then exposed to an average noise intensity of around 105 dB, when working with a chainsaw 110 dB and with a demolition hammer, if you are "lucky" you can get up to 115 dB. If we look at the permissible limits of noise exposure at an intensity of 88 dB, then it is only 4 hours without hearing protection, and at an intensity of 94 dB it is only 1 hour. The intensity of 100 dB is safe for a maximum of 15 minutes and where will you get on your motorcycle that quick? Exposure to noise with an intensity of 110 dB is only permissible for less than 2 minutes, so you cannot cut that many logs with your circular saw.
If you feel there is a problem, see a doctor without delay
As for children and noise from headphones, modern players can produce noise up to 130 dB and ordinary "plug" earphones are 6-9 times louder than classic headphones. Fortunately, most modern phones warn of the danger of exceeding the maximum recommended volume when increasing the volume. However, the recommendation is clear - do not skimp on headphones and it is best to choose ‘classic’ headphones, not earphones, which are also more fashionable at the moment.
As for us adults, this is a clear recommendation not to underestimate hearing protection even during hobby activities and to use both earplugs and, in the case of greater noise, also external protection, similar to Otík in the well-known Czech film. At a rock concert, after a 30-minute listening, I definitely recommend a 15-minute break in the form of a nice snack with a beer and sharing experiences with friends or other people "resting" in a queue. Alternatively, you can purchase hearing protectors, both passive and active, in the form of HiFi in-ear earphones. If the whistling in the ears or the feeling of your ears buzzing persists the day after the concert, it is not advisable to delay the visit of the ENT specialist, because in the so-called acoustic trauma (i.e. hearing injury from noise), treatment success is very dependent on how quick we initiate it. If the injury is not attended to within a few days the likelihood of hearing recovery to normal is greatly reduced.
Meter on the phone
In general, the most dangerous thing for the hearing to be exposed to a sudden short noise of less than 1 second (shot, riveter, etc.), because the ear compensation mechanism is not able to react quickly enough. The intensity of noise in the environment can be measured with a sound level meter, but also with the help of a smartphone after downloading the appropriate app. This way, you can check the amount of noise in the workplace, but also during recreational physical activities, for example at your countryside house. I definitely recommend that especially to carpenters and car mechanics.
The author is an ENT doctor at the Canadian Medical Clinic
MD Marek Plánička
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