Which is better? Speaker or Headphones

Loud sounds and noises are always a threat to the ears. Loss of hearing happens usually when there is a dysfunction of the inner ear, cochlea or auditory nerve or when brain damage occurs. Besides, studies reveal that prolonged exposure to sound that measure more than eighty-five decibels (db) can cause permanent damage to the ears and result in hearing loss.

Some of the probable causes of hearing loss are-

• The aging factor
• Injury to the ears or head
• Excessive exposure to noise
• Viral infections like measles and mumps
• Health conditions like diabetes, meningitis(brain fever) and autoimmune inner ear disease
• Certain drugs that damage hearing capabilities(ototoxic drugs)
• Ear infections

Let us understand how excessive exposure to noise is harmful.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)

Hearing loss can be caused by extremely high outbursts of sound from sources like gunshots and explosions or constant hearing of loud noises from devices like speakers and headphones. Such noises can rupture the eardrum or cause damage to the bones of the middle ear thereby impairing the hearing function. Such loss is termed as Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL).NIHL can be either temporary or permanent depending on the extent of the damage.

Speaker versus Headphones

Using speakers enables the listeners to experience the real sound as it bounces and diffracts from the walls of the room in which it is placed. Additionally, speakers are capable of producing a wider range of frequencies though the sound quality could be lesser. However, speakers hearing loss is a dangerous consequence caused by continuous contact with loud sounds (more than 85 db).

Headphones, on the other hand, transfer the sound directly to the individual ears providing a personalized listening experience to the listener. Advantage of using headphones is that others in the surroundings are not disturbed. However, like speakers,  headphones hearing loss is inevitable as people tend to use them for long hours and maintain high volumes unknowingly causing damage to the ear structure. Besides, constant usage of headphones is more dangerous than speakers as they may cause numbness, pain or infection in the ears and even damage the brain leading to serious health issues!

In short, though speakers and headphones have advantages and disadvantages, prolonged usage of either of them is not advisable as it can lead to hearing loss.

Hearing Loss Treatment

Treatment depends on the type and extent of the hearing loss. In case of temporary hearing loss, the following options are available-

• Removal of ear wax-Ear blockage from wax can be reversed. Doctors usually remove the wax deposit using a small clinical device or suction tool to restore hearing.
• Surgical intervention-Hearing loss may be cured by surgical intervention if there is any abnormality in the eardrum or ossicles (ear bones). For persistent ear infections with fluid accumulation, a small pipe may be inserted to the ear to drain the fluids.

In case the hearing loss is permanent, doctors may recommend the following-

• Hearing aid treatment-When there is severe damage to the inner ear resulting in impaired or permanent hearing loss, doctors may recommend the usage of hearing aids. There are wearable devices that amplify the sound to make it audible. Various hearing aid models include Invisible In Canal(IIC),Completely In Canal(CIC),MIC(Mini in Canal),In The Ear(ITE) and MIH(Microphone in Helix).
• Cochlear Implants-This is used when there is severe hearing loss. A cochlear implant is a device that is surgically inserted. It directly bypasses the damaged or malfunctioning parts of the ear and provides stimulation to the auditory nerve to enable hearing.

To conclude, any hearing loss due to overexposure from headphones and speakers should not be ignored. There are several renowned ENT doctors in Coimbatore who can treat it effectively.

For any hearing difficulties or ENT Surgery in Coimbatore, please visit Vikram ENT Hospital which is a famous ENT Hospital in Coimbatore with state-of-art medical facilities.