Protect & Improve Your Hearing & Brain Health | Dr. Konstantina Stankovic

About this video

Dr. Konstantina Stankovic, chair of otolaryngology at Stanford School of Medicine, explains how hearing works and how to protect it across the lifespan. Huberman notes she presents mounting evidence linking hearing loss to dementia, while stressing not everyone with hearing loss develops it, and cites her figures that hearing loss currently affects one and a half billion people. Stankovic explains that even subtle hearing deficits can impair focus and cognition, and that progressive loss now begins earlier, even in childhood, driven by loud environments and headphones. She gives practical rules: 80 decibels is safe for eight hours, with safe time halving for every three-decibel increase, and if bystanders can hear your headphones, the volume is too loud. She notes children are more vulnerable to noise than adults, that susceptibility varies genetically between ’tough’ and ’tender’ ears, and discusses magnesium for protection and approaches to tinnitus.

Key takeaways

• Stankovic presents evidence linking hearing loss to dementia risk and cognitive impairment.
• Stankovic gives 80 decibels for eight hours as a safe rule, halving with every three-decibel increase.
• Stankovic says if others can hear your headphones, the volume is too loud.
• Stankovic notes children are more vulnerable to noise-induced hearing loss than adults.
• Stankovic explains susceptibility varies, describing ’tough’ versus ’tender’ ears.

Episode details: published October 13, 2025 · 106.5K views · 2:27:43 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. The science and protocols described are Andrew Huberman’s, presented for education — not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before changing your own health practices.

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