The "Three Character Classic" to prevent hearing loss? A must-read for those who love headphones!

Friends, when you wear headphones and immerse yourself in your own world, have you ever thought that this is an "immersive electric shock party" for your ears? In the information age, improper use of headphones has quietly become the number one culprit affecting young people's hearing health.

1. Your ears are melting

The hair cells in the cochlea are like piano keys, and each key corresponds to a different frequency of sound. When you watch short videos at full volume in a noisy subway, it is equivalent to picking up a bowling ball and smashing it on the piano keys. If you are exposed to an environment of 89 decibels for one hour every day, the death rate of cochlear hair cells is comparable to a "mass stampede." What's more tragic is that the damage to these hair cells is irreversible, just like melted ice cream that cannot be restored.

2. Your ear canal is taking a hot spring bath

Imagine this: when earphones block the ear canal for a long time, it is equivalent to creating a "hot spring resort" inside the ear canal, allowing bacteria to enjoy a "feast" leisurely here, greatly increasing the risk of external ear canal infection, and may even induce more serious ear diseases such as otitis media.

3. Three-character Classic for Preventing Deafness

1. Volume button: Do not exceed the decibel level of your mother calling your full name (about 60 decibels);

2. Timer: Do not use it for longer than your patience for waiting for takeout (about 60 minutes);

3. Choosing a concubine: Choose to buy ISO16 certified headphones. At the same time, the over-ear headphones come with a safe social distance and can also summon a physical noise reduction barrier;

4. Desire to survive: If you hear BGM playing automatically in your head (tinnitus), please go to the ENT clinic of the hospital immediately.

Next time before you put on your headphones, think about this: the cicada chirping, subway station announcements, and the gurgling sound of oden in convenience stores that are filtered out by the noise reduction function are the limited edition BGM customized for you by the universe. After all, the price of letting your ears retire early may be to miss Crush's confession hidden in the wind forever.

References:

[1] Wan Tingyue, Chen Junjiang, Wu Zhili, et al. Analysis of factors affecting hearing loss among students aged 14 to 28 years old due to headphone use[J]. Chinese Journal of School Health, 2023, 44(09): 1396-1398. DOI: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2023.09.026.

[2] Xing Yueqiu, Ouyang Yanqiong. Effects of wearing headphones on hearing and risk factors of customer service staff in a certain industrial park in Wuhan[J]. Occupation and Health, 2024, 40(22): 3046-3050. DOI: 10.13329/j.cnki.zyyjk.2024.0561.

[3] Wu Xin, Jiang Jin, Guan Yuhong, et al. Effects of habitual use of headphones on hearing of technical school students[J]. Chinese Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2021, 34(03): 239-242. DOI: 10.13631/j.cnki.zggyyx.2021.03.015.

[4] Su Yiwei, Li Yanhua, Zhang Jinwei, et al. Effects of listening to music with headphones on high-frequency hearing loss in workers exposed to noise[J]. Chinese Journal of Occupational Medicine, 2019, 46(04): 412-416.

Author: Chen Hao, Yang Xiaoli, and Huang Hongyun from Chongqing Yongchuan District Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

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