Doctor Advises the 60–60 Rule for Headphone Use

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Ear, Nose, and Throat surgeon Dr. dr. Harim Priyono, SpTHTBKL, Subsp. Oto (K), warned that excessive use of earphones (earphones or headphones) can raise the risk of hearing disorders. According to Harim, prolonged exposure to loud sounds can cause hearing impairment due to noise-induced hearing loss, which is permanent. ‘When we use earphones or headphones there is noise exposure. The impairment is not conductive but sensorineural and permanent,’ Harim said during an online discussion hosted by RSUP Nasional Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo on Friday. The doctor, a member of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) with more than 19 years of experience, explained that sensorineural impairment occurs at the hair cells in the cochlea, the snail-shaped part of the inner ear. Damage to this part cannot be repaired, resulting in permanent hearing loss. Therefore, Harim advised the public to follow the use rules for audio devices known as the 60–60 rule. The rule means the recommended maximum volume is 60 percent of the device’s capacity, and usage should not exceed 60 minutes continuously. ‘After 60 minutes, a rest period of about 15 minutes or more should follow before using it again,’ he said. In addition to regulating volume and duration, Harim also regards bone-conduction earphones as a potentially safer alternative. With this mechanism, sound does not undergo the natural amplification process that normally occurs in the ear canal, eardrum, and the hearing bones (ossicles). As such, the risk of damage from loud sound exposure may be reduced compared with ordinary earphones. Nevertheless, Harim stressed that the use of audio devices must still be limited to maintain hearing health.