However, these seemingly harmless conveniences pose a potential risk of hearing damage if abused.
Mr. T.D. (35 years old, residing in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City) is a typical case. Due to regularly wearing headphones for a long time, he began to show symptoms of ear pain and yellow discharge. When he came to the hospital for examination, he was diagnosed with otitis media. After excluding other risk factors, doctors determined that the habit of constantly using headphones was the main cause. "Only when I went to the doctor did I realize that wearing too many headphones could cause serious harm to the ear. Fortunately, the disease was detected and treated promptly," Mr. D. shared.
According to Specialist Doctor 2 Nguyen Thanh Hung, Head of the Otolaryngology Department, Le Van Thinh Hospital, Bluetooth headphones pose two major risks. First, is the impact of electromagnetic waves on brain electrical activity. Second, headphones are placed directly into the ear canal, blocking the air pathway, an important pathway that helps sound affect the eardrum. “When the air pathway is blocked for a long time, hearing function gradually declines, patients find it difficult to recognize until tinnitus, ear pain or obvious hearing loss appear,” Dr. Hung analyzed.
Agreeing with this view, Specialist Doctor 2 Duong Thanh Hong, Head of the Department of Ear - Neural Ear, Ho Chi Minh City Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, said that headphones are being commonly used among teenagers, especially in big cities. Many people listen for 1-3 hours a day, far exceeding the safe threshold. Meanwhile, the sound intensity above 85dB, if exposed regularly, will increase the risk of unrecoverable deafness. "Just listening to music for 15 minutes at 120dB can cause serious hearing damage," Dr. Hong warned.
According to experts, once hair cells in the inner ear are destroyed by loud sounds, the body is unable to regenerate. Patients may lose hearing permanently without realizing it in the early stages.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that people adhere to the 60-60 principle: only listen for a maximum of 60 minutes each time with a volume not exceeding 60dB, and let the ears rest regularly. People who work in noisy environments or have a habit of using headphones a lot need to have regular hearing check-ups every 6 months to detect early risks of hearing loss.
