Use Headphones For More Than 90 Minutes a Day? You Might Be Permanently Damaging Your Hearing

All your favourite pastimes might be damaging your hearing prematurely.

Whether it's streaming your favourite TV show, listening to your favourite music or learning something new with a podcast, chances are you're doing it with your headphones.

What you might not realise, however, is that your ears could be suffering if you're listening too loud or for long periods of time.

The ABC has spoken to Professor David McAlpine from the Australian Hearing Hub, who is very concerned about the usage of headphones and the lack of education around how to use them appropriately.

In fact, the Australian Hearing Hub recommends you only use headphones for a maximum of 90 minutes a day and that you should never listen to it above 80 per cent of maximum levels.

Which is approximately zero per cent of us.

The thing about hearing damage that makes it so important to avoid is that it's irreversible. But it's not all bad news: there is a way to stop the damage you're doing to your ears.

Professor David McAlpine told the ABC you need to treat headphone usage like you would with junk food; it's all about moderation.

"You need to go on a noise diet, he told the ABC.

"If you're going to a noisy gig, don't spend all day on public transport listening to your earbuds."

He also recommends forking out the extra cash for noise-cancelling headphones, so that you don't have to increase the volume too much on public transport or on airplanes.

"When hearing damage starts, then you're really on an irreversible journey. If you don't protect your hearing, you're going to damage it for life," Professor McAlpine said.

Photo: iStock.com/Slavica