Listen Up: Headphone Use Can Impact Your Hearing Health (2024)

FAQs

Listen Up: Headphone Use Can Impact Your Hearing Health? ›

Today's portable audio devices can get as loud as 120 dBA, which is equivalent to the sound levels at a rock concert. Listening to audio at this level can lead to hearing damage in a matter of seconds. Audiologists recommend keeping the audio levels at or below 60 percent of the maximum volume.

Headphones that go over your ears can also damage your hearing if you use them too long or play music too loudly. They're just not as much of a risk as earbuds are: Having the source of the sound in your ear canal can increase a sound's volume by 6 to 9 decibels — enough to cause some serious problems.

Impacted earwax – Wearing earbuds can lead to earwax buildup. While earwax protects your ears, it's possible to have too much. Impacted earwax can trap dirty water, fungi and bacteria, making it more likely that you'll develop ear infections.

“Headphones are safer than earphones”

Both, headphones and earphones are equally safe to use if you keep the volume levels under control. The myth is born from the idea that earphones sit deep inside the ear canal, closer to your ear drums while headphones don't.

Sound is measured in units called decibels. Sounds at or below 70 A-weighted decibels (dBA), even after long exposure, are unlikely to cause hearing loss. However, long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 dBA can cause hearing loss.

If your ears hurt after using headphones, there could be a few reasons why: Prolonged use. Using them for too long can lead to ear infections, hearing loss, and ringing in the ears.

Driver Diameter – Headphone sound quality depends to a great extent on the size of the diaphragm, which is indicated by the driver diameter: the larger the diameter, the better the sound quality tends to be. Most drivers for earbuds are 13.5–15.4 mm in diameter, with those for canalphones being 8.8–12.5 mm.

Is it bad to wear headphones all day? Wearing headphones all day can increase your risk for ear infections, hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, if you maintain a safe listening volume of less than 85dB (SPL) and regularly clean your headphones, it's safe to use them all day.

Using your earphones or headphones for way too long can lead to hearing losses, especially when the volume is too high. But you can prevent unwanted hearing problems from occurring when you keep the volume at 60% and use the headphones only for one hour.

The best headphones for ear health are generally open-ear or over-ear headphones. Open-ear headphones don't trap moisture or heat, minimizing the risk of ear infections. On the other hand, over-ear headphones with noise-canceling features reduce the need for high volumes to prevent hearing damage.

Is it bad to wear headphones all day without music? ›

Normal use of in-ear devices don't often cause a problem. But prolonged earphone use, such as if you leave them in all day, could: compress the earwax, making it less fluid and harder for the body to naturally expel. compact the earwax to the extent the body induces inflammation.

A safety concern with wireless headphones is exposure to EMF and RF radiation which may be a little higher than with wired headphones. However, the levels of radiation emitted by both wired or wireless headphones are generally considered to be very low and are unlikely to cause any harm to the human body.

But if you use earphones for long hours for meetings, lectures, or music, then headphones are better,” said Dr Mehta. Concurred Dr Patil and said that it is advisable for youngsters to limit exposure to high volumes or maintain volume below 60 per cent of the maximum and use noise-cancelling options if possible.

Many experts believe the escalation is due, in part, to increased use of headphones. According to James E. Foy, DO, an osteopathic pediatrician from Vallejo, California, listening through headphones at a high volume for extended periods of time can result in lifelong hearing loss for children and teens.

Dr. Nagaonkar recommended the 60/60-minute rule: Listen to music or play a movie or video game at no more than 60% of the maximum volume. Limit the amount of time you spend with earbuds in your ears to 60 minutes. Take appropriate breaks.

Safe-Listening Tips

Follow the “60:60 rule.” Listen at 60 percent of the maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes a day. If the device has a “smart volume” feature, use it. This feature helps regulate the volume. Keep the volume low, even in noisy situations.

The sound that headphones produce can have a negative impact on the eardrums. Your nervous system is affected by sound travelling from your ears to your brain, which results in a lack of focus. Excessive use of headphones can lead to weaker concentration and focus abilities.

First, always keep the volume at a moderate level to protect your hearing. Second, be sure not to listen to earphones for more than a few hours at a time. Third, clean the earphones regularly and change the earbuds when needed. Finally, if you feel pain or discomfort in your ears, stop using the earphones immediately.

Take regular breaks of at least five minutes every hour to give your ears a rest. Use a volume limiter on your device (if there is one) – this means you won't be able to turn the music up without realising it. Don't go over the 'safe' volume level that appears on your phone's screen when you change the volume.