HOW DO NOISE-CANCELLING GADGETS WORK?
Noise-cancelling devices have a built-in microphone to analyse the ambient sounds around you and generate the opposite sound waves to neutralise them. Generally, there are three audio devices that deliver this tech for the sweet, sweet sound of silence (or close to it): Earphones, earbuds and headphones.
The key difference between earphones and earbuds is their fit: Earphones insert into the ear canal, while earbuds rest on the outer ear. Of the three, headphones are probably the ultimate in noise avoidance because they also cup your ears for an added layer of noise-blocking.
WHAT’S WORSE: A NOISY ENVIRONMENT OR NOISE-CANCELLING GADGETS?
The quick answer: A noisy environment, said Soo Ying Pei, the head of Audiology at Alexandra Hospital. “Noise-cancelling devices, if used appropriately, wouldn’t be harmful to our hearing,” she said.
But if you max out the volume on your noise-cancelling earphones at 105 decibels (or dB) to 110dB for 5 minutes, for instance, “it could potentially cause noise-induced hearing loss, which is similar to that of someone being exposed to noisy environments”, said Soo, citing a 2020 Harvard study.
OKAY, BUT WHAT IS CONSIDERED LOUD?
These are sounds that measure 100dB and above, said Dr Neo Wei Li, an associate consultant with Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery at Sengkang General Hospital.
Loud noises don’t only come from planes taking off; you can also hear them from fitness classes, the movie theatre, driving a motorbike or listening to music with headphones at a high volume. “For noise levels of 100dB and above, the limit is 15 minutes,” said Dr Neo.
