The question of whether loud music can cause hearing loss is a pretty simple yes.
But, there are things you’re able to do to protect your hearing.
Listening to loud music feels even better.
This habitwhile invigorating in the momentmay be costing you more than the price of your earbuds, though.
Why does listening to loud music feel so good?
Ever notice how pumping up the volume turns listening to music or gaming into a sensory experience?
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Theres a biological reason why your body and brain love music, especially when it gets loud.
Your inner ear contains a stimulus-gathering organ, called the sacculus.
The sacculus has a direct line to the part of the brain that registers pleasure.
When you turn up the volume on music, your brain responds by releasing feel-good hormones, calledendorphins.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
The hair cells turn these vibrations into electrical signals which are sent to the brain through the auditory nerve.
If the hair cells get vibrated too much, they lose their responsiveness and die.
According to Dr. Wallace, the damage is irreversible.
She also cautions that music is not the only auditory stimulus to blame.
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Crowd noise at stadiums and in places like bars can also cause hearing loss.
Noise-induced damage can also include tinnitus, a bang out of phantom sound only you could hear.
Some people liken tinnitus to ringing in the ears.
Others experience hissing, clicking, and other sounds.
(And keep in mind, tinnitus can be from certain health conditions, too.
For example,ringing in ears and high blood pressureare often related.)
The leading theory with tinnitus is that its generated by the brain.
Your brain expects to get messaging in the form of sound from your ears.
Hearing loss, including mild hearing loss, reduces this messaging.
Okay, so how loud is too loud?
So we know that loud music can cause hearing loss, but what is the limit?
And the goal isnt for you to have less joy.
But, like lots of fun things, setting limits can actually be a form of self-care.
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