Research groups at Juntendo University and Telecommunications University have shown from experiments on listening to music when wearing various earphones that listening to music in a noisy subway environment increases the risk of hearing loss, but the noise canceling function can avoid the risk of hearing loss. I made it.
Currently, deafness due to listening to music through earphones is increasing among young people, and the World Health Organization (WHO) is warning.When a music device is used in a quiet environment, the volume is generally considered safe, but it tends to be louder when there is noise, such as in the subway.Since it is unclear how to safely listen to music with earphones under noise, the research group conducted experiments on listening to music with various earphones.
The experiment targeted 23 adults with normal hearing. Listen to music using 4 types of earphones (A) ear rest type, (B) headphones, (C) insert type, and (D) insert type with noise canceling function, and the most comfortable volume (optimum listening) Level) was adjusted arbitrarily.The optimum listening level of each music was measured under quiet environmental conditions and environmental noise (80 dB) recorded in the subway.
As a result, the optimum listening level under the background noise of the subway is increased in A, B, and C compared to quiet, increased in A and B compared to C and D, and dangerously louder than 85 dB in A and B. In some cases.However, the insert type earphone (D) with noise canceling function had a safe volume of 75 dB or less.
This study proved that the noise canceling function of earphones is effective as a preventive measure against hearing loss in the noisy environment of the subway.This will lead to the maintenance of "hearing" health, which is important for social life.
Paper information:[Journal of Audiology & Otology] The Effects of an Active Noise Control Technology Applied to Earphones on Preferred Listening Levels in Noisy Environments
