As Joni Mitchell as soon as sang, “you don’t know what you’ve acquired until it’s gone,” and that rings significantly true for our well being. In early 2025, I discovered this lesson the scary approach when what began as a nasty weeks-long chilly became the next signs in my left ear: diminished listening to, a sense of fullness, occasional tinnitus (ringing within the ear) and a day or two of stability points, because the inside ear helps with the physique’s equilibrium.
What turned out to be eustachian tube dysfunction — when the tube connecting the center ear to the again of the nostril not capabilities correctly — left me frantically googling methods to protect my ear well being. As a wellness author with 10-plus years of expertise and a powerful understanding of the significance of taking precautionary well being measures, I wished to do every little thing in my energy to forestall listening to loss from taking place once more.
Throughout my seek for solutions, I discovered {that a} widespread piece of expertise could also be contributing to my listening to points: earbuds. I spoke to ear well being specialists, who stated earbuds inserted immediately into your ear may cause listening to loss and different points. Right here’s what specialists say about earbuds and ear well being.
The ear well being dangers that include earbuds
Earbuds can pose just a few dangers, in keeping with Dr. Ruth Reisman, a licensed audiologist and New York listening to assist dispenser. They will entice warmth and moisture within the ear, growing the danger of ear infections. With repeated use, earbuds may push earwax deeper into the ear, resulting in buildup or impaction. Plus, in case your earbuds don’t match accurately otherwise you put on them for lengthy durations, they will trigger irritation or soreness in your ear canal.
“Earbuds sit immediately within the ear canal, which might improve a number of dangers. The most important concern is noise-induced listening to loss if quantity is just too excessive or listening time is just too lengthy,” stated Reisman. “I’ve witnessed all of those issues in the middle of my 15 years as an audiologist.”
If you take heed to content material at excessive quantity, significantly for an prolonged interval, Dan Troast, an audiologist at HearUSA, explains that it will probably completely injury the fragile hair cells in your inside ear. Earbud use mixed with excessive quantity may cause:
- Noise-induced listening to loss
- Tinnitus (ringing, buzzing or hissing within the ears)
- Sound sensitivity over time
Misusing earbuds can be widespread. In the event that they don’t have noise cancellation, you may repeatedly flip up the amount to keep away from listening to background noise, which might put you in an unsafe listening vary quick. Nonetheless, even listening at a reasonable quantity can turn out to be an issue when you achieve this for hours every day.
“Early indicators of overexposure embody short-term muffled listening to or ringing after listening classes — each are warning alerts from the auditory system,” Troast stated. Even when you periodically expertise short-term ringing in your ears, it will probably in the end improve your threat of growing continual tinnitus.
Radiation threat and earbuds
In my seek for ear well being ideas, I got here throughout a number of articles discussing whether or not wi-fi Bluetooth earbuds may cause hurt by way of radiation. I requested Reisman if that is true.
“Present scientific proof does not present that the vitality from Bluetooth earbuds causes hurt,” she stated. “These gadgets emit far much less radiation than cell telephones and stay properly beneath established security limits. From an audiology standpoint, sound publicity is a far larger threat than radiation.”
Me sporting my beloved AirPods Professional 2.
The rule you’ll wish to observe when you use earbuds
Each Reisman and Troast advocate the “60/60 rule” to individuals who put on earbuds. The 60/60 rule means you hear at not more than 60% of the utmost quantity for not more than 60 minutes at a time.
“Each day use is ok if the amount stays secure and ears are given time to relaxation,” Reisman advises. “I often inform sufferers to take a 15- to 20-minute break for each hour of use.”
If you happen to haven’t already, Troast recommends checking whether or not your gadgets have built-in listening to well being settings that routinely monitor quantity publicity. For example, in your iPhone, Apple Watch or iPad, you’ll be able to arrange headphone notifications to provide you with a warning to decrease the amount whenever you’ve reached the seven-day audio publicity restrict (akin to 80 decibels for 40 hours over seven days). Or, you’ll be able to activate the Scale back Loud Audio function to have your headphone quantity routinely lowered as soon as it exceeds your set decibel stage.
Safer sorts of headphones in your ear well being
Over-the-ear headphones are typically safer, in keeping with Reisman, as a result of they sit outdoors the ear canal and don’t focus sound as immediately on the eardrum. Since they aren’t within the ear canal like earbuds, they’re additionally much less prone to trigger irritation or earwax buildup.
“Over-the-ear headphones could be safer — if they permit for decrease listening volumes,” stated Troast. “Even higher are noise-canceling headphones, which scale back background noise, so listeners don’t really feel the necessity to crank up the amount.” Simply be sure you’re nonetheless conscious of your environment, particularly when you’re outside close to visitors.
Open earbuds is also a safer choice. They use bone-conduction expertise, which transmits sound by way of the earbones and the cranium fairly than on to the eardrum. “A number of headphone corporations declare open earbuds are higher in your listening to well being and are extra hygienic,” stated David Carnoy, CNET’s resident headphone skilled.
Since open earbuds don’t sit inside or cowl the ear:
- Heat and moisture, like sweat, received’t construct up, which might trigger ear infections.
- Particles, akin to mud, received’t switch from the earbuds into the ear.
- They received’t push earwax deeper in your ear, which might result in impaction.
- Don’t rub or press on the ear canal, lowering discomfort or irritation.
Nonetheless, when you take heed to content material at excessive volumes, no headphone type is totally secure. What issues most in your ear and listening to well being is complete sound publicity over time, so be sure you’re monitoring your quantity stage and giving your ears breaks.
If you happen to proceed to put on earbuds, be sure you’re doing so safely — and that they match correctly.
Professional ideas when you use earbuds
If earbuds are your most well-liked headphone kind for listening to your favourite music, exhibits and podcasts, Troast provides the next ideas from an audiology perspective:
- Use built-in quantity restrict settings on smartphones.
- Select noise-canceling earbuds or headphones to keep away from growing quantity in loud environments.
- Take common listening breaks.
- Keep away from sleeping in earbuds.
- Get a baseline listening to take a look at, particularly when you use earbuds each day.
If you happen to’re already experiencing tinnitus, it’s particularly necessary that you just handle your quantity stage to forestall it from worsening.
Carnoy provides that there have additionally been situations of individuals being allergic to the supplies used for earbud ideas. When you’ve got a recognized allergy, be sure that your earbuds do not use that materials, or exchange the information. If you happen to do have an allergic response, cease utilizing the earbud ideas till you could find a substitute.
Lastly, Reisman advises conserving your earbuds clear, avoiding sharing them and making certain they match correctly. Most earbuds include ideas in numerous sizes, so you could find the correct match in your ear measurement.
When to see an audiologist or physician
If you happen to expertise ringing within the ears, muffled listening to, ear ache or frequent infections, Reisman recommends you think about an analysis with an audiologist.
You’ll additionally wish to take note of early warning indicators of inside ear injury from noise publicity, akin to ringing within the ears, problem listening to or needing to show up the amount over time.
If you happen to’re already experiencing listening to loss, Troast stated that addressing it with listening to aids can present aid. Tinnitus, alternatively, could be handled with evidence-based approaches akin to sound remedy or particular counseling methods.
“Listening to injury is gradual and cumulative,” Reisman stated, “nevertheless it’s additionally largely preventable with good and wholesome listening habits.” And that features utilizing your headphones — or, in my case, earbuds — responsibly.
