60-60 Rule for Using Headphones: ENT Doctor's Tips to Prevent Hearing Loss and Permanent Deafness

Excessive use of earphones such as earphones or headphones can increase the risk of serious hearing damage. Harim Priyono, a Specialist in Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)–Head and Neck Surgery at the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), reminded that prolonged exposure to loud sounds can trigger noise-induced hearing loss, which is permanent. According to Harim, the hearing impairment is not conductive but sensorineural. ‘Sensorineural impairment occurs in the hair cells in the cochlea or the organ of Corti in the inner ear. Damage to these parts cannot be repaired, so the decrease in hearing is permanent,’ the doctor said in an online discussion in Jakarta. As a preventive step and to maintain ear health, the public is strongly advised to follow the 60-60 principle when using personal audio devices. This principle governs two main variables: volume and duration. Harim emphasised the importance of breaks for the ears. ‘After 60 minutes, it is advisable to give the ears a rest for around 15 minutes or longer before using them again,’ he added. In addition to usage patterns, the choice of device also matters. Bone conduction earphones are considered a safer alternative for hearing health. Bone Conduction Devices transmit sound through vibrations in the bones, so sound does not enter directly through the ear canal and does not undergo natural amplification in the eardrum and the auditory bones. With this mechanism, the risk of ear damage and hearing impairment due to noise exposure may be reduced compared with conventional earphones. Nevertheless, public education about duration limits remains the most important factor to keep hearing health intact in this digital era.