Next Time You Listen To Music, Remember The “60/60” Rule – Audiology Associates

If you wear headphones all day, every day, this one’s for you. There’s a good chance you’re overdoing it with the volume and potentially hurting your hearing. To spare your senses, it could be as easy as following the “60/60 rule” that’s circulating on TikTok.
Instead of wearing your headphones at work, on the subway, at the gym, and while you sleep, the 60/60 rule is all about giving your ears a break. The idea is to listen to your music at 60% volume for 60 minutes at a time before turning it down — or completely off.
According to Dr. Erika Porter, an audiologist and senior audiology manager at Phonak, hearing loss is more common than you think. That’s because certain habits, like listening to loud music, can damage the tiny “hair cells” within the ear that transmit physical sound waves to electrical signals that go to the brain.
“With loud sounds, like music, the hair cells are damaged,” Porter tells Bustle. “Think of ocean waves hitting grass along the beach. Sometimes the damage is temporary, and the hair cells recover, but the more often they are exposed to the loud noise, the less they recover.” Here’s why the “60/60 rule” can help.
Even though you may love loud music, your ears really don’t. Symptoms of early hearing loss vary from person to person but often include not being able to hear in noisy spaces (like bars or restaurants) and asking people to repeat themselves regularly, Porter says.
If you’ve damaged your hearing, you might also notice ringing in your ears or a sensation that your ears are blocked. “Hearing loss can also progress over time,” she says. “The effects of a mild hearing loss might not be as noticeable at first, but as hearing decreases, the challenges might become more apparent.”
Your ears also tend to tolerate more noise as the day goes on, which makes it easier to slide the volume up without even realizing it. “Have you ever gotten in your car in the morning and been surprised by how loud you listened to the radio the evening before?” Pouliot says. All of this sound adds up throughout the day, and over time, can start to impact your hearing.
Our audiologists are a great resource for suggestions or information. For any questions or to schedule an appointment with owner, Kevin Bolder, Au.D., or John Davis, Au.D., please call Audiology Associates, at (661) 284-1900. Visit us at 25425 Orchard Village Road, Ste 220, Valencia, CA 91355 or on our website at www.audiologyassociates.net.
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