When it comes to music, we like it loud! Although, after reading the following information we have to say, we’ll be a bit more conscious of the volume setting the next time we’re wearing headphones…
Some disturbing new research from the University of Leicester has found that listening to loud music while you’re wearing headphones can have the same kind of effect on your nerves as multiple sclerosis (MS). Yes, seriously.
According to the research, noise levels above 110 decibels actually strips essential insulation from our nerve fibres which carry signals from our ears to our brain. The loss of this protective coating (which is called myelin) can significantly disrupt how our brain receives these signals.
The damage is the same kind of damage that is done to nerves when someone is suffering from MS.
The findings of the research are published in the noted scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Is listening to loud music on headphones damaging your nerves?
“The research allows us to understand the pathway from exposure to loud noises to hearing loss. Dissecting the cellular mechanisms underlying this condition is likely to bring a very significant healthcare benefit to a wide population. The work will help prevention as well as progression into finding appropriate cures for hearing loss,” said Dr Martine Hamann, the lead researcher for the study.
Dr Hamann’s work is part of on-going research into the effects of loud noises on the area of the brain that receives sound signals from the inner ear.
Will this encourage you to turn down the volume the next time you’re listening to something on your headphones?
