Earphones can harm hearing--- is anyone listening?

HUBLI: It is well known that listening to loud music for extended periods of time can damage hearing. But many probably don't realize that they are unintentionally damaging their hearing by listening to music through earphones at high volume for just an hour every day. In Hubli, youths are getting hooked on to earphones and listening to music on their mobiles. And this has led to a rise in the cases of hearing problems in the city, say doctors. Many clinics and hospitals say these patients are in the age group of 17 to 35.Using earphones is most common these days and attractive and colourful pieces are attracting the youths.Speaking to TOI, Gururaj G, college student, said: ''I have been listening to my favourite music on mobile through earphone since a few months. But when I developed severe pain in one ear and had headaches, I contacted an ENT specialist. After checking me, the doctor told me that continuous listening to music was the main reason for the pain in the ear. So now I don't use earphones regularly.''Another student Vinayak M shared his experience saying that he stays alone in a rented room, and that after college hours he would come to his room and listen to music through earphones to beat stress. He said after a few days he realized that he was not able to hear minute sounds and also had severe pain in the ear and neck. ''Then I consulted a doctor. I was shocked to know that it was because of earphones.''There are about 14 ENT clinics in the city and every day, these clinics see 4-5 cases pertaining to hearing problems because of earphones, say doctors. The number of cases are much more in KIMS, hospital.Umesh Nagalotimath, ENT consultant, said nerves in the ear will get affected and cause ear pain and that there are chances of getting infection and headache.Dr N S Hiremath, ENT specialist, said that listening loud music through earphones will cause sensory neural hearing loss, and by using uncleaned earphone, chances of getting fungal infection are more. Exchanging of earphones with friends is also harmful. Standard earphones are a must and they need to be cleaned frequently. But people should stop listening to loud music continuously through earphones, he said.EARFULRisk of damage to your hearing when listening to music depends onHow loud the music isHow close you may be to speakersHow long and how often you are exposed to loud musicHeadphone/earphone useFamily history of hearing loss