Loud sound from headphones damages brain cells

The modern world is saturated with sounds, and many of us cannot imagine our lives without music, podcasts or audiobooks. Many of us listen to music through headphones to enjoy the sound alone or not disturb others. But there are increasing warnings that loud noise from headphones can damage brain cells.

Scientists from the University of Leicester conducted a study that showed that excessively loud noise from headphones can damage the membrane of nerve cells, which can lead to temporary hearing loss and tinnitus (a buzzing or ringing in the ears). According to the study, sometimes the noise level emitted by headphones is comparable to that produced by jet aircraft, that is, above 110 decibels.

Human nerve fibers are covered with a myelin sheath, which serves as electrical insulation for the axons of neurons. If the hearing organ receives noise louder than 100 decibels, the myelin sheath of the axons becomes frayed and begins to deteriorate, causing the transmission of electrical signals to suffer. When it slows down, hearing loss occurs. Fortunately, the myelin covering of the nerves is gradually restored in silence, and temporarily lost hearing can be restored.

For British doctors, the results of the study are important because the nature of many cases of deafness, which can be cured, has become clear. An experiment examining the myelin sheath of a damaged auditory nerve showed that it usually takes several months to recover.

The conclusions that can be drawn from this study are clear. You should not listen to music at maximum volume through headphones, especially if you are in a noisy environment. If necessary, it is recommended to use headphones with a volume limiter. Additionally, taking regular breaks from listening to music can help maintain long-term hearing health.