Headphones and Hearing Loss

How loud is this video? You may need to turn the volume down, especially if you've got your headphones on. And listen up-- this isn't just for older folks. A study showed that one in five teens has hearing loss. That's 30% higher than it was in the '90s.

So unless you want to spend the rest of your life saying "huh?" use the 60/60 rule. When using headphones, only turn the volume to 60% for a total of 60 minutes a day. You'll want the sound to be no louder than 60 decibels, which is the volume of a dishwasher or a clothes dryer. If it's the volume of a vacuum cleaner, you've gone too far. If you're not done jamming after an hour, make sure you take off the headphones and keep the volume low. That way, you can keep your ears through your golden years.

For WebMD, I'm Dr. Michael Smith.