Maryland’s Health Matters - Midtown - Fall 2017 - 19

more than two hours at a time

volume can affect your hearing.

increases the risk of eyestrain because

Even moderately loud sound levels

of the glare of the screen and the

can cause problems over time.

tendency to blink less while using

of the ear, through the ear canal and

People tend to blink one-third

the eardrum and vibrates the malleus,

as often when they are looking at

incus and stapes, which then send the

screens compared with when they are

sound to the cochlea. The cochlea has

doing other activities.

DRIVING?
LEAVE
THE PHONE
ALONE
The World Health Organization
reports that using a cellphone
while driving puts you at
three to four times higher
risk of an accident-even in
hands-free mode. It's the pull
on your attention that's the
problem. The distraction of
using your phone leads to
longer reaction time, closer
following distances and
unintended lane shifts.

"Sound travels from the outside

these devices," Dr. Friedel adds.

many tiny hair cells that vibrate in

Eyestrain won't cause perma-

response to the sound and turn that

nent vision problems, but symp-

vibration into an electrical response

toms can be uncomfortable.

that travels to the brain. These cochlear
hair cells get damaged from too much

These tips can help you keep

sound or from being exposed to sound

your eyes feeling their best:

for too long, so that they can't transmit

■ Take a 20-second break
from screens every 20 minutes, and look at something

the sound anymore. Once damaged,
they cannot grow back," she explains.
The American Academy of Otolaryn-

at least 20 feet away.

gology-Head and Neck Surgery reports

■ Position your computer

that 10 million Americans have irrevers-

screen at about arm's

ible noise-induced hearing loss, and

length and slightly below

30 million are exposed to dangerous

your line of vision.

noise levels daily.

■ If your eyes are dry, use
artificial tears.
■ Reduce or redirect lighting

Loud sounds can sometimes
cause pain or ringing in your ears.
But even if you're not noticing any

to limit glare. But don't

symptoms, you can still be damaging

darken the room too much.

your hearing.

If your screen is a lot
brighter than the surround-

These tips can help you maintain

ing area, your eyes have

your hearing while enjoying your

to work harder.

favorite songs:

■ Increase the text size and the
contrast on your devices.
■ If you wear contact lenses, switch
to your glasses occasionally.

HEADPHONES AND
HEARING LOSS
Listening to music, podcasts or

■ Turn the volume as low as you
can while still hearing the music.
■ Limit the time you spend
using headphones.
■ Choose over-the-ear headphones
rather than earbuds.
■ Use noise-canceling headphones.
■ Limit the maximum volume

other recordings on headphones may

on your device, if possible.

damage your hearing. Nidhi Gupta, MD,

Many phones and MP3 players

an ear, nose and throat specialist

offer this option.

and assistant professor of otorhinolar-

■ If you use headphones at bedtime,

yngology - head and neck surgery

keep the volume low and set your

at the University of Maryland School

device to turn off automatically

of Medicine, says listening at a high

after 30 to 60 minutes. 
umm.edu/midtown | Fall 2017  19
http://www.umm.edu/midtown
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