Can metal detecting headphones lead to hearing loss?

[xcopperstax]

I have an AT Max with the wireless headphones and I generally keep my headphones turned all the way up to make sure I don't miss any tones. I almost always use the headphones instead of letting the sound come out of the machine ( as it annoys the hell out of me). Is it possible that this could lead to long term hearing loss or tinnitus etc.? Does anybody have first hand experience on this? I'm not currently experiencing problems but I'm curious if this could lead to something. Thanks.

 

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[Madmox]

Though I don’t have any first hand experience here. I can say that I almost guarantee it is possible. I haven’t heard of any metal detecting headphone circuitry to limit volume to protect hearing though some music players have it. Different people have different sensitivity to sound. If you happen to be one of those people that have sensitive ears I imagine it could happen. The cut-off for damage is generally thought to be about 85 decibels. So if any of the tones are above that, it is possible they could cause damage. Some examples of that level are an alarm clock, a passing diesel truck, a lawn mower. Riding a motorcycle is about 100 decibels. Just as a few examples.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Short answer; No.

 

[digger460]

Gotta be careful with the pinpoint mode on the Equinox

 

[Jason in Enid]

If the tones are blasting when you hit normal and shallow targets, yeah it CAN cause hearing loss. ITs no different than any other loud noise. Most people don't have their volume so loud that its uncomfortable.

 

[Kansas_Jayhawk]

Absolutely there is a danger. The lower the volume the less danger you have but even lower volumes can damage your ear - less likely but can. I turn my volume down fairly low and really focus on what is coming through. I find that the higher the volume the more chattery& chirping I have to deal with.

 

[dts52]

WHAT

Sorry, I couldn't resist. That's the same thing I say to my wife when she asks whether I'm wearing my hearing aids.
BTW, she doesn't find it amusing.
HH
dts

 

[Kansas_Jayhawk]

WHAT

Sorry, I couldn't resist. That's the same thing I say to my wife when she asks whether I'm wearing my hearing aids.
BTW, she doesn't find it amusing.
HH
dts

That’s funny ... just about what my dad says. He has hearing aids but fails to where them. Drives my mom up a wall.

 

[eyemustdigtreasure]

Eh...?

Suggestion, use headphones that don't fully seal off outside noises.

I use Philips SHS 5200 phones, that sit behind the head, resting on the ears like a pair of eyeglasses.
Light weight, and they are inexpensive compared to most headphones that detectorists choose to use .
Check them out online. Example
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Ph...238976&hash=item2ac9fcb71a:g:6qgAAOSwpTBcL7me

 

[EKG]

Yes y would be careful

http://www.hearingreview.com/2017/06/wireless-hearing-aids-present-health-risk/

 

[mh9162013]

Eh...?

Suggestion, use headphones that don't fully seal off outside noises.

I use Philips SHS 5200 phones, that sit behind the head, resting on the ears like a pair of eyeglasses.
Light weight, and they are inexpensive compared to most headphones that detectorists choose to use .
Check them out online. Example
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Ph...238976&hash=item2ac9fcb71a:g:6qgAAOSwpTBcL7me

But by letting in outside noise, wouldn't that require the user to raise the volume on the metal detector, which in turn results in additional sound energy entering the person's year?

 

[EKG]

My personal choice

 

[xcopperstax]

Though I don’t have any first hand experience here. I can say that I almost guarantee it is possible. I haven’t heard of any metal detecting headphone circuitry to limit volume to protect hearing though some music players have it. Different people have different sensitivity to sound. If you happen to be one of those people that have sensitive ears I imagine it could happen. The cut-off for damage is generally thought to be about 85 decibels. So if any of the tones are above that, it is possible they could cause damage. Some examples of that level are an alarm clock, a passing diesel truck, a lawn mower. Riding a motorcycle is about 100 decibels. Just as a few examples.

Thanks for the thoughts on it.

 

[xcopperstax]

If the tones are blasting when you hit normal and shallow targets, yeah it CAN cause hearing loss. ITs no different than any other loud noise. Most people don't have their volume so loud that its uncomfortable.

I was thinking about the cumulative effect of the high tones. Thanks for the thoughts on it.

 

[xcopperstax]

Absolutely there is a danger. The lower the volume the less danger you have but even lower volumes can damage your ear - less likely but can. I turn my volume down fairly low and really focus on what is coming through. I find that the higher the volume the more chattery& chirping I have to deal with.

I'll give it a try and see if I can still find stuff. Thanks.

 

[xcopperstax]

Eh...?

Suggestion, use headphones that don't fully seal off outside noises.

I use Philips SHS 5200 phones, that sit behind the head, resting on the ears like a pair of eyeglasses.
Light weight, and they are inexpensive compared to most headphones that detectorists choose to use .
Check them out online. Example
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Ph...238976&hash=item2ac9fcb71a:g:6qgAAOSwpTBcL7me

Thanks for the thoughts on it.

 

[xcopperstax]

Yes y would be careful

http://www.hearingreview.com/2017/06/wireless-hearing-aids-present-health-risk/

Thanks for the link. I read it and this was more about the radiation from wireless technology which I suppose is one more thing to worry about. It seems like it's probably not something that harms us with normal usage. If you had wireless head[hones on all day every day seems like that might be something to worry about. I wish I could get out that much!

 

[eyemustdigtreasure]

Maybe get a set that has volume control...besides, your metal detector should be telling you more info some other way, like id numbers
or good ol' icons - so sounds just help you finally decide to dig or not.

 

[Clad2Silver]

I've been detecting for 37 years and have always used headphones. I'm 73 now and last summer I started noticing that I had a minor? case of tinnitus. When listening to a radio, TV, cd player or whatever I always have it on low, so that makes me wonder....is the tinnitus simply caused because I'm getting old or did the years of detecting with headphones eventually cause it.

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

I've been detecting for 37 years and have always used headphones. I'm 73 now and last summer I started noticing that I had a minor? case of tinnitus. When listening to a radio, TV, cd player or whatever I always have it on low, so that makes me wonder....is the tinnitus simply caused because I'm getting old or did the years of detecting with headphones eventually cause it.

At 73, tinnitus would be something I wouldn't lose sleep over. I have tinnitus at 43.
Shooting, construction equipment, headphones, ect ect it all adds up.

Military service is probably a huge factor for hearing loss for many.