Headphones: Hearing Loss Affects Younger People

Priscila Tiussi, an otolaryngologist at São Bernardo Apart Hospital, warns about precautions to avoid hearing loss and infections from using the accessory The need for home office has made headphones a work accessory, whether to isolate home sounds from work or to participate in online meetings with more privacy. The improper use of the device can cause noise-induced hearing loss, warns the otolaryngologist from São Bernardo Apart Hospital (SBAH), Priscila Tiussi. This caution is reinforced by an estimate from the World Health Organization (WHO) that predicts that by 2050 more than 1.1 billion people could have their hearing damaged by the use of headphones. According to research by the organization, those most affected will be young people between the ages of 12 and 35. "The longer the exposure time, the lower the volume should be. Using the accessory for extended periods also increases the temperature and humidity of the ear canal, which can lead to external otitis, and in addition, they can cause injuries to the canal and remove natural earwax, increasing the risk," advises the doctor. Priscila recommends that headphones should be used as little as possible and at the lowest volume. "Just enough to hear and understand what is being said," she explains. Avoid Contamination About 10,000 fungi and bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus (which can cause anything from skin lesions to infections) and the fungus Candida ssp (responsible for 80% of the main systemic fungal infections), can be found in headphones and earphones, according to research conducted by the UniMetrocamp Biomedical College in Campinas – SP. "To reduce the amount of fungi and bacteria, we should frequently sanitize the headphones, ideally always before and after use. Preferably use over-ear headphones. In case of pain, a feeling of hearing loss, discharge from the ears, or local discomfort, an otolaryngologist should be consulted for an appropriate evaluation and diagnosis," highlights the otolaryngologist from SBAH.