Caution against earphone & headphone use

THE Union Health Ministry has warned of hearing loss as- sociated with excessive use of earphones and headphones, es- pecially by the younger popula- tion, asking the states and med- ical colleges to create awareness against its prolonged usage as it could lead to “irreversible hearing damage”.

- KAVITA BAJELI-DATT

In a letter, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof (Dr) Atul Goel also stress- es the importance of limiting screen time for kids. Continu- ous watching can delay the cog- nitive development of the brain, affecting social interac- tion and communication, the officer said.

Prof Goel suggests people use audio devices with volumes not exceeding 50 decibels but for no more than two hours dai- ly and take breaks during lis- tening sessions. He advises them to use well-fitted or noise- cancelling headphones when- ever possible to allow audio to be played at lower volumes.

Regarding children’s expo- sure to online gaming, the DGHS asks the states to make them aware of limiting their exposure to “loud impulsive sounds, frequently employed in the game design” and also wants them to reduce the use of social media.