Music aficionados know all too well that watching music live has its risks. Losing valuables, dancing too much, and accidentally positioning yourself next to the loudspeaker are chief among them.
Long exposure to loud noises is nothing to play with either. Tinnitus is a real problem for music enthusiasts across all demographics, and there’s more to blame than seating-chart happenstance. Today, we’re going to explore the role that headphones play in the nation’s declining hearing health and share some tips on how you can prevent tinnitus.
What Is Tinnitus
It’s not painful, but tinnitus can certainly be a pain. Often described as a persistent ringing of the ears, tinnitus is the medical term for any level of buzzing, humming, ringing, or swishing sounds. These sounds can be continuous or intermittent and vary in loudness. Tinnitus is common too, affecting over 50-million American adults.
The condition can arise in any number of ways. Certain drugs can cause it, as can medical conditions, blockages of the ear, and the natural aging process. Although, it primarily occurs as the result of prolonged exposure to loud sounds or single exposure to a sudden, extremely loud noise. These loud sounds can and do cause permanent damage to the inner ear, which in turn can lead to the development of tinnitus.