A QUARTER of Welsh people cannot leave their house without their headphones, new research commission by Specsavers reveals, with many people listening to music and podcasts at excessively high volumes.

The poll of 2,000 UK adults found the nation is more attached than ever to their headphones. It found that 15 per cent of people in Wales are even willing to turn back and go home and travel six to ten minutes into their journey if they realise they’ve forgotten them.

Despite the overreliance, almost two in five Welsh people admit they have rarely or never considered the impact their headphones could be taking on their hearing - particularly if they are listening to their music at excessive volumes. On average 15 per cent of Welsh people confessed to regularly ignoring warnings on their phone telling them the volume is too loud.

Gordon Harrison, Chief Audiologist at Specsavers, who commissioned the new research, said: “Prolonged exposure to loud sounds through headphones can cause permanent damage to the delicate structures inside the ear. This can lead to issues such as hearing loss and tinnitus, which are often irreversible and can worsen over time.”

Gordon continued “With New Year’s resolutions now in full swing, many of which are fitness-focused, more people are reaching for their headphones during workouts, often at unsafe volumes. It’s important to be mindful of how loud and how long you’re listening for, as the damage isn’t always immediately noticeable.”

In a bid to do better in the New Year, 25 per cent in Wales plan to turn the volume down, 18 per cent want to cut back on headphones use altogether and 18 per cent say they’re finally planning to book the hearing check they’ve been putting off.

The main reasons for headphone use include listening privately without disturbing others (39 per cent), relaxing and unwinding (28 per cent) and blocking out background noise (25 per cent).

However, 29 per cent said they usually listen at a high or very high volume, leading to side effects such as, ringing in the ears (29 per cent), sore ears (25 per cent), headaches (15 per cent), muffled hearing (15 per cent) and dizziness (8 per cent).

Gordon added: “No matter if you use over the ear headphones or earbuds, exposure to louder sounds over time can be equally as damaging. Noise-cancelling headphones are a better option as they allow the volume to be lowered while also improving audibility where there is background noise.”

For expert guidance on hearing health and to book a free hearing test, visit www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing