Protect your hearing with the iPhone's Hearing Accessibility Feature
Understanding the Risks of Loud Music
Listening to music at high volumes for extended periods is a well-known risk factor for permanent hearing loss. The challenge, however, lies in recognizing the threshold between safe and dangerous volume levels. Even professionals who test headphones, such as the AirPods Pro 2, often find it difficult to identify this exact point.
The Solution: iPhone's Hearing Accessibility Feature
Fortunately, the iPhone and Apple Watch come equipped with a solution: the Hearing Accessibility feature. This tool enables you to see the exact decibel levels of the music you're listening to, using clear colour coding to indicate safe and unsafe volumes. For instance, if the music exceeds 80dB — the recommended limit for prolonged listening — the feature alerts you to lower the volume, thus safeguarding your long-term hearing health.
Setting Up the Hearing Accessibility Feature
Checking for Existing Setup
Before setting up the feature, it's wise to check if it's already available in your Control Center. Swipe down from the top of your screen to access the Control Center and look for an ear icon. If it's there, you're good to go. If not, follow these steps:
Adding the Hearing Widget
Open Settings and navigate to the Control Center.
Scroll to find "Hearing" and tap the + icon to add it to the Control Center.
Connecting Headphones
Connect any pair of headphones and swipe down to open the Control Center again. Look for the ear icon with a green or yellow bar — that's the Hearing feature. Tap the widget to open it.
Using the Hearing Accessibility Feature
With the widget open and music playing, the feature displays the audio's decibel level. A green bar indicates a safe level (below 80dB), while a yellow bar suggests it's time to lower the volume. Regular checks are essential, especially when switching between different audio sources, like music and YouTube videos.
Additional Features
Live Listen: This function measures ambient sound levels, useful in environments like concerts. Connect headphones, open the widget, and select "Live Listen" to view the ambient noise level.
Background Sounds: For those who enjoy relaxation sounds, this feature offers a range of ambient sounds, such as rain, ocean waves, and white noise. Access it through the circular icon at the bottom of the widget. It's a great alternative to store-bought white noise machines.
Post-BrightBeatz Therapy Recommendations
After completing auditory therapy at The Key Clinic, we advise maintaining the fine-tuned hearing ability. Everyday factors like loud noises, ear infections, and earbud use can impact hearing. For children who enjoy gaming and music, we recommend volume-limiting headphones, which emit sounds only up to 85db. Regular headphones can reach up to 115db. Setting limits and taking breaks from headphone use are also crucial for protecting hearing.
Why You Should Use This Feature
Hearing loss is partly inevitable due to ageing, but excessive exposure to loud music accelerates this process. The National Institute of Health indicates that normal hearing can tolerate up to a 20dB loss, but anything beyond that is considered hearing loss, with a 40dB loss being significantly impaired. Regular monitoring of ambient noise and music volume is key to preventing unnecessary hearing damage. By practising healthy listening habits, you can continue enjoying the best music streaming services and headphones well into the future.
Remember, your hearing is precious — protect it with the help of your iPhone's innovative features!