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5. Earbuds can be more dangerous than headphones.

We’re not saying that earbuds are dangerous in general, but because they’re closer to your eardrum, you should be aware. “Earbuds can increase the sound intensity reaching your inner ear by as much as nine decibels when compared to over-the-ear headphones,” says Colen. “Earbuds also filter out less outside noise than traditional over-the-ear headphones. Therefore, people have a tendency to increase volume more with earbuds to compete against external sounds, resulting in higher listening volumes and higher risk of long-term hearing damage.”

6.Use Noise Dampening of Cancelling Headphones 

The noise around us can contribute to cause us to change how we listen to an iPod or iPhone. If there’s a lot of noise nearby, it’s likely that we’ll turn up the iPhone’s volume, thus increasing the chances of hearing loss. To cut down on, or eliminate, ambient noise, use noise-deadening or –cancelling headphones. They’re more expensive, but your ears will thank you.

7. Use earplugs when you’re listening to live music

They can reduce average sound levels by between 15 and 35 decibels. They’re widely available at many live music venues and shouldn’t spoil your enjoyment of the music.

8. Stop using cotton swabs in your ears

It’s common for people to use cotton swabs to clean wax out of their ear canal, but this is definitely not advisable. A little bit of wax in your ears is not only normal, but it’s also important. The ears are self-cleaning organs, and wax stops dust and other harmful particles from entering the canal. Plus, inserting anything inside your ear canals risks damaging sensitive organs like your ear drum.

If you have excess wax, you can clean around the canal with a damp towel—gently. You could also use ear wax removal solution over the course of a few nights. This softens the wax so that it will eventually flow out on its own. The best solution is always to seek a professional opinion and care when possible.

Reference list

http://www.allure.com/story/headphone-ear-bud-use-safety-guide

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/hearing-problems/Pages/tips-to-protect-hearing.aspx

http://ipod.about.com/od/generalmaintenance/a/avoiding-ipod-hearing-loss.htm