Earbuds and headphones are everywhere in our modern world as we tune in to music, podcasts, audiobooks and other media. When used properly, they can enable you to enjoy your favorite media or learn something new as you go about your day. Used improperly, however, earbuds and headphones can have some adverse effects on your hearing health.
About Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
You’re probably aware that exposure to loud noise is one of the leading causes of hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss, or NIHL, occurs when the sensory cells in your inner ear are flattened or damaged by the powerful sound waves of loud noise. The good news is that NIHL is entirely preventable if care is taken to mitigate the effects of loud noise.
It’s important to understand that NIHL is possible even with sounds that you don’t immediately consider “deafening.” Yes, a gunshot next to your ear is incredibly dangerous for your ears, but listening to a slightly too-loud sound for long periods of time can be just as dangerous, if not more so, because you don’t initially realize that you’ve reached unsafe volume levels1.
Hazards of Using Earbuds and Headphones Improperly
Listening to audio at max volume through headphones or earbuds is a recipe for NIHL. Not only are your ears getting blasted with powerful sound waves, but the source of the noise is right next to your ear, if not in it.
Additionally, in-ear headphones and earbuds can increase your chances of developing an ear infection. Outer ear infections, or otitis externa, are caused when bacteria or other germs get trapped in the ear2, leading to ear pain, inflammation, discharge from the ear canal and temporary hearing loss. They can also block earwax from exiting the ear canal, causing earwax buildup.
The Sixty-Sixty Rule
To protect your hearing, we recommend using the “sixty-sixty rule” as a guideline: keep headphone listening to 60 minutes at a time at 60% your device’s maximum volume.
Bear in mind that this is just a guideline, and that NIHL is a function of volume and time. Therefore, you can adjust in both directions to keep it at safe levels. For example, if you’re listening at a level above 60% of the max volume, shorten the listening session.
One of the big keys of the sixty-sixty rule is to take breaks. Rest and recovery can prevent the worst of hearing damage. If you’ve had your headphones in for an extended period of time, it’s time to take them out and give your ears a break, no matter what volume level you were at.
Noise-Canceling Headphones
Noise-canceling headphones can help protect your hearing because they decrease the need to turn up the volume to drown out your surroundings. Over-ear headphones are especially good at this, as they block out more ambient noise with their padded exteriors.
Clean Your Earbuds Frequently
If you’re using earbuds or in-ear headphones, it’s important to clean them thoroughly and regularly. Bacteria, dirt and other germs can fester on them, leading to an ear infection.
You also want to clean your earbuds of earwax as often as possible. Earwax is a naturally occurring substance your ears produce to keep the ear canals clean and hydrated. The sticky substance traps germs before they can reach the delicate eardrum and cause damage or infection. At the end of its lifespan, earwax dries and falls out of your ears as you walk, chew or shower. However, earbuds can block it from falling out of the ear canal, leading to buildup and keeping that dirt trapped in the canal. Clean your earbuds after each use with a damp cloth.
Signs of Hearing Damage
If you’ve noticed any change in your hearing, it’s important to seek help right away before your hearing deteriorates further. Signs include:
- Muffled hearing
- Distorted sound
- Difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds or voices
- Trouble hearing or understanding speech
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Sound sensitivity
If you’ve noticed any of these, especially if you listen to audio through headphones on a regular basis, contact a hearing health specialist for a hearing test and diagnosis. Call The House Institute today to find out more or schedule an appointment.
Learn More
1 National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2022, March 16). Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. NIDCD. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss
2 InformedHealth.org. (2023, June 13). Overview: Outer ear infection. NIDCD. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279353/