India, March 9 -- Listening to music makes the day go easier, whether you are doing routine tasks at work or on the long commute home. Having something playing in the background just makes everything a little lighter. It can lift your mood instantly. But in the chase for distraction and a lighter mood, many wear earphones for hours, sometimes at high volumes, which can silently damage our hearing over time.ALSO READ: Using cotton earbuds daily? ENT doctor reveals how it may harm ears: 'Causes ringing in ear, temporary hearing loss.'

HT Lifestyle spoke to Dr Deepti Sinha, lead consultant, department of ENT at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, who warned that long hours on earphones can harm hearing, and the warning signs may not even be immed...