I have periodically warned about the dangers of loud music and ear buds. Now, a new study out of the United Kingdom points up yet again how damaging they can really be, and why hearing loss occurs as a result.
Regular
readers of my blog will recall that I have periodically warned about the
dangers of loud music and earbuds. Now, a new study out of the United Kingdom
points up yet again how damaging they can really be, and why hearing loss
occurs as a result.
The
study was conducted by the University of Leicester in the UK, and was published
in the Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences. It found that many people listen to music via earbuds
at decibels reaching 95-110—about the intensity of sound generated by a jet
engine. The
University of Leicaster study is unique in that it is the first to discover
nerve damage as a result of loud noises. How does the damage occur? The coating
of nerve cells that carry electrical signals from the ear to the brain can be
damaged by noises above 110 decibels — even stripping the nerves of their
coating entirely. This creates the temporary hearing loss many may experience,
though the once the coating reforms the ear will function as normal. Prolonged
exposure to loud noises has been linked to permanent hearing loss.
Lead
Researcher Dr. Martine Hamann told Science Daily: “The
research allows us to understand the pathway from exposure to loud noises to
hearing loss. Dissecting the cellular mechanisms underlying this condition is
likely to bring a very significant healthcare benefit to a wide population. The
work will help prevention as well as progression into finding appropriate cures
for hearing loss.”