OK—say, what? Audiologists repeat: Your daily habits can contribute to hearing loss quickly or over time.
Now, we have good news and bad news. Good news first: despite a growing (and aging) population, hearing loss numbers actually dipped a bit—from 16% (28.0 million) in 1999-2004 to 14% (27.7 million) in 2011-12, the National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders (NIDCD) reports. Age is the strongest predictor of hearing loss, but you can still feel empowered knowing you often have some say in how quickly and how much your hearing declines. The bad news is that there are a lot of sneaky, everyday sounds that can contribute to our ears...not working like they used to.
Unfortunately, there's a so-called "healthy" habit that audiologists warn can silently damage your hearing—and the effects often begin shortly after birth. They sound off on the popular habit and alternatives below.
Audiologists warn that using white noise machines can damage hearing, even if you use them with the healthiest intentions.
Yet, research shows that using a white noise machine can actually negatively affect sleep and hearing.
"Many hearing professionals also use 85 dBA as a practical benchmark because noise exposure above this level becomes increasingly risky as either the volume or duration increases," Dr. Sarow explains. "Hearing loss can happen abruptly, in the case of one brief, extremely loud impulse sound—like a gunshot—or it can happen due to hours of consistent exposure."
"Then, if you compound that exposure to many nights, the risk increases," he adds.
"During the day, that person may also experience other noise due to work or recreational noise exposure," she says. "Repeated over time, excessive noise exposure can contribute to gradual noise-induced hearing loss."
Dr. Cushing adds that babies are especially vulnerable because their ear canals are smaller, which can amplify high-pitched sounds and cause more damage. He also notes that there's concern the noise may affect normal auditory development because—believe it or not—the brain learns to process sounds even during sleep.
White Noise Machines: Best Practices for Hearing Protection & Alternatives
If you're going to use a white noise machine to improve your focus or sleep or help a baby, Dr. Cushing suggests keeping the sound below 50 decibels, measured where your head rests. He recommends the same noise level for adults and infants and notes that the CDC has a free sound level meter app.
"Shorter is safer," he tells Parade. "Ideally, use a timer so the machine shuts off after you fall asleep. Most people only need the masking during the window of time that they are actually trying to fall asleep. That said, if you need to have it all night, then put it on the lowest volume, and put it at least seven feet away from you."
A fanA humidifierAn air purifier
She says these products usually produce steady-state noises at lower levels.
Using a white noise machine isn't the only habit to ditch if you want to protect your ears. Dr. Schnitzspahn says other things to stop doing if you want to reduce your hearing loss risk include:
Listening to headphones too loudly.Not wearing hearing protection when doing loud activities (working, using firearms and attending concerts).Using Q-tips to clean your ears ("They are labeled to clean the outer part of your ear, not to remove wax," Dr. Schnitzspahn points out. "You end up pushing the wax deeper into your ear and forming a wall of wax that then has to be removed by a professional. If your ear canal is blocked, your hearing is blocked.")Up Next:
Related: I'm a Hearing Doctor—These Are 3 Things I Would Never, Ever Do With My Ears
Sources:
Dr. Ross Cushing, Au.D., a board-certified audiologist and CEO/co-founder of Live Better Hearing + BalanceDr. Melissa Schnitzspahn, Au.D., an audiology manager with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical CenterDr. Amy Sarow, Au.D., CCC-A, an audiologist and the director of consumer education & audiology with Hearing TrackerQuick Statistics About Hearing, Balance, & Dizziness. National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders.Noise as a sleep aid: A systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews.Occupational Noise Exposure. OSHA.Hazardous sound outputs of white noise devices intended for infants. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology.Disruption of primary auditory cortex by synchronous auditory inputs during a critical period. PNAS.Infant Sleep Machines and Hazardous Sound Pressure Levels. Pediatrics.Hence then, the article about the healthy habit that s silently damaging your hearing according to audiologists was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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