World Hearing Day: How Are Headphones and Wireless Earbuds Making You Deaf? Know Ways To Prevent Hearing Loss

With blatant usage of headphones and wireless earbuds, many people, especially youngsters, often complain of hearing issues and ear infections. According to experts, the advancements in technology in these devices—the convenience with which they are available and their low prices—have all made their use very common. “The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this even further, and remote work, online learning, and more streaming services led people to use them even more often. Online gaming also makes individuals exposed to loud sounds via their earbuds,” Dr Darshil Vaishnav, Consultant Laryngologist and ENT Su at Bhailal Amin General Hospital, told Times Now.

And as with any technological innovation, there are risks involved, especially regarding hearing health.

According to Dr. Vaishnav, listening to music or using wireless earbuds at high volumes for a prolonged time leads to havoc in your hearing, which includes:

• Ear canal damage
• Listening overload
• Dependency on high-volume levels
• Social isolation and communication challenges

A few other risks include:

Musicians and other sound professionals who work with earbuds on a regular basis are subjected to music that can range from 100-110 dB, equivalent to the noise level of a chainsaw. Microscopic hair cells in the ear are tasked with translating sound energy into electrical impulses. “Prolonged exposure to high-intensity sound can destroy these hair cells, leading to permanent hearing loss,” said Dr. Vaishnav.

Repeated exposure to noise can result in hearing fatigue, and the sensitivity of hearing temporarily reduces. This hearing fatigue could turn into permanent hearing loss if exposure continues.

Exposure to loud noises can cause tinnitus, which is a persistent ringing sensation in the ears. “Tinnitus is usually indicative of hair cell damage and, in most instances, is permanent. Sadly, no cure for tinnitus exists,” said Dr. Vaishnav.

Headphones and earbuds trap moisture in the ear canal and block the earwax flow, allowing the risk of ear infections to be higher. Sharing earbuds without cleansing can also transfer fungi and bacteria from one person to another.

Professionals advise listening to music at 60% volume for not more than 60 minutes. After 60 minutes, rest your ears for 30 minutes. If your job demands long periods of earbud usage, use them in one ear only while resting the other ear.

According to Dr. Vaishnav, it is important to take active breaks to prevent your ears from becoming overworked. Frequent pauses will lower the chances of damage over time.

Over-the-head headphones spread sound more evenly throughout the ear, making the distance between the eardrums greater and transferring less sound energy to the ear. This lowers the chance of hearing damage.

“Regular hearing checkups enable you to track your hearing well-being. In case you detect any changes in your hearing, it's necessary to see an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist,” Dr. Vaishnav added.

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