In society today, there is a new craze for earbuds, especially recently-released wireless ones, like AirPods. Although earbuds are a convenient way to listen to music privately, there could be some potential health risks associated with these inventions.

The volume of a earbud has the potential to cause serious long-term damage to a person’s hearing. According to Teen Health MP3, music can be at 85 decibels when a device is at 70 percent of its maximum volume. At max volume, the sound can equal that of a chainsaw or motorcycle, as Purdue states. When listening to earbuds for a long period of time at full volume, you could be at risk of permanent hearing loss. Dr. Sreekant Cherukuri, an ear specialist from Munster, Indiana, states that, “the largest cause of hearing damage in millennials is the use of iPods and smartphones as music devices.” Earbuds can also cause of tinnitus, a medical condition where there is a constant ringing or buzzing in your ear.

There is, however, a simple way to make sure you are not at risk for hearing damage. Doctors recommend that you only use earbuds at 60 percent of the total volume and only listen for about an hour at a time. These are the two most effective preventative measures that a person can take while still being able to put those AirPods to use.