Hearing Protection Information
You have purchased headphones or earphones designed for entertainment purposes. However, improper use—especially excessive volume—may damage your hearing. Careful volume selection is strongly recommended, particularly during prolonged listening.
Excessive volume can cause irreversible hearing damage!
Before using the product, please read the information below to learn how to prevent hearing damage and protect your hearing.
- Why Is Hearing Protection Important?
We hear through sensory cells located in the inner ear. Prolonged exposure to loud sounds can fatigue these sensory cells, which may result in temporary hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Repeated or long-term exposure to loud noise can permanently damage these cells and other structures, leading to irreversible hearing loss, tinnitus, or both.
Hearing damage caused by loud noise is referred to as noise-induced hearing loss. This damage can occur suddenly (for example, due to a sudden loud explosion), but more commonly it develops gradually and irreversibly. It often goes unnoticed or is ignored until the effects become more obvious.
- Symptoms of Hearing Damage
If you experience any of the following symptoms, hearing damage may be present and you should consider consulting a specialist:
- persistent ringing in the ears (tinnitus); since tinnitus may have multiple causes, it is especially important to seek medical advice if it persists;
- difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds (e.g. birdsong, doorbells, phones, alarm clocks);
- difficulty understanding speech (e.g. misunderstanding consonants);
- difficulty following conversations in noisy environments (such as restaurants, markets, or social gatherings) or over the phone.
- How to Protect Your Hearing
Noise-induced hearing loss can be prevented by limiting exposure to loud sounds.
For safe use of the product:
- keep the volume below 60% of the maximum level;
- using noise-cancelling headphones can reduce the need to increase volume, especially in noisy environments (e.g. public transport or cafés);
- download and use mobile applications that limit volume levels and monitor listening risks;
- choose devices with built-in safe listening features (such as sound exposure monitoring and volume limiting);
- reduce the amount of time spent listening to loud sounds.
- Safe Listening Time
Safe listening time decreases rapidly as sound intensity increases.
For example:
- at an average volume of 80 dB, up to 40 hours of listening per week may be considered safe;
- at an average volume of 90 dB, the safe listening time is reduced to a maximum of 4 hours per week.
- Hearing Protection for Children and Young People
Children’s and young people’s hearing is particularly sensitive, and they are often unaware that listening to music at excessive volume can have serious and permanent consequences. Regular use of headphones or earphones at high volume can cause irreversible hearing damage even at a young age, potentially affecting learning abilities, speech comprehension, and social interactions, with lifelong consequences.
- How Can Hearing Protection for Children and Young People Be Supported?
Prevention is key. It is important to consciously establish healthy listening habits from an early age.
Parents can support their children’s hearing protection in the following ways:
- choose headphones or earphones specifically designed for children, with built-in volume limiting (e.g. maximum 85 dB);
- ensure that children do not use headphones or earphones for extended periods and encourage regular breaks;
- talk to children about the risks of hearing damage in a way that is appropriate for their age and understanding;
- watch for symptoms (e.g. if the child frequently asks for things to be repeated or has difficulty following conversations in noisy environments).
With conscious listening habits, you can protect your hearing for a lifetime!
The hearing protection of children and young people requires special attention.