Can Wearing Headphones or Earbuds Cause Hearing Loss? | Ask the Hearing Doctors 

I'm sorry to hear you have developed tinnitus as a result of excessive noise exposure. Your warning to others is much appreciated!!

Nah mate hearloss or not i dont care, im blasting that music at max volume, if i feel pain then its good.

​@@Floweij trust me its not worth,the ringing doesn't allow you to sleep cause headaches and your ears can hurt

@@unnikuttan7877 damn

@@unnikuttan7877 ive been doing that sh for years

What level 1 means is up to the device and speakers, but yes hearing needs rest. I listen at 3,5% now

Great to hear!

You're so welcome! We're glad it was helpful.

Glad you liked it!

As far as we can tell ANC is not dangerous to the ear. Only time and research will tell us more.

Sounds like you are listening at a very safe level.

Listeners are at risk of hearing loss from the overuse of any type of earphone. Bone-conduction transducers are not any safer than any other earphone. The sound is processed by the cochlea similarly to air-conducted sound and listening too long and too loud can cause hearing loss.

It is true to some degree. The reason earbuds can cause more damage than headphones is that the sound pressure level at the eardrum is higher. When wearing earbuds, the ear canal is typically closed off and very little sound escapes.

@@AscentAudMcLean So then, at similar levels of sound, ear buds are indeed more damaging to hearing than headphones? Cuz that didn't seem to be the conclusion the video made.

As long as my body doesn’t complain, I can go on forever

@@Oso430 That's what she said.

@@noxinabox3506 they are not an issue as long as you dont wear them for too long to ventilate and pressure equalizate. Keep the volume level at the minimum you need to hear correctly, no matter if ear buds or not, but especially there.

I put it on 75 lol

It all depends on the cause of the hearing loss. If it's a conductive loss, which means the problem is from somewhere in the ear canal or middle ear space, you may be able to see an ENT for a remedy. Some examples of conductive losses are impacted wax or fluid in the middle ear. Have you been evaluated by an Audiologist?

The volume depends on how long you are exposed to the sound. 85dB in 8 hours is considered safe. As you increase the decibel level you must cut the time you are exposed in half in order to be safe. For ex. 90 dB in 4 hours. 95 dB in 2 hours. 100 dB in 1 hour.

@@AscentAudMcLeanthank you for the valuable information I also would like to know whether earphones cause damage to hair cells inside the ear as the earphones stay very close to the eardrum while in use irrespective of the volume and duration.

Suppose it depends on the decibel level that is produced. Even though it's the lowest level, not knowing what that level is we can't say that it is safe.

​@@AscentAudMcLeanI use earbuds at 50% volume listening to bible scriptures before bed. That should be fine right

You will want to get a hearing test. We recommend going in-person for testing but there are some online tests available too.

Great suggestions! Perhaps technology will move that way in the future.

Wearing them all the time isn't a problem provided they are on a very low volume.

Great question! Yes, as long as you are not in the danger zone (red), listening to music will be safe.

@@AscentAudMcLean Even maximum blue volume? Thanks by the way for replying.

@@TheStudioArchitect I'm not a doctor, but I've got a couple OSHA certifications and have gone through hearing protection training for various jobs on multiple occasions. I am also a bit of a headphone nerd. Honestly, your question isn't quite so easy to answer. The phone doesn't know the output volume of your earbuds/headphones. Some may be safe even at max volume, while others may be too loud even at (for example) half the blue volume. It's really going to depend on your exact setup. If you are particularly concerned about it I would suggest trying to optimize your listening setup to be as quiet as you can while still sounding good. For example, having headphones or IEMs that isolate you from outside noise allows you to still hear everything clearly at lower levels. On the more nerdy high tech side of things, try to make sure your headphones are balanced for the kind of listening you enjoy. But that's a bit of a way down the rabbit hole.

As long as the 'low voice' is truly below 85dB, it is not considered damaging.

@@AscentAudMcLean thank you sir

Unfortunately, if your hearing loss is noise induced which would be sensorineural in nature, it cannot be reversed. Going forward please use hearing protection when around all loud noise and continue to have hearing evaluations annually to monitor any potential progression.

An open headphone will allow for some sound to escape the ear, making it safer. However, if the dB level is at an unsafe level for an extended period of time, even when wearing open headphones, it will still damage your hearing.

Be sure to keep the volume at a low level. It's the long-term exposure to high intensity sound that creates problems. Also, consider taking a break here and there if you are able so your ears can rest.

So even if you listen to music at high levels will it still help to listen to it short term and let your ears rest for a couple hours? @@AscentAudMcLean

None Of Them are best

Sony XM are generally safer since their volume is capped. Some people, though, complain that they ain't loud enough

Did something specific happen when using headphones 3 months ago? Have you had your hearing tested?

@@AscentAudMcLean Yes, I used to using headphones at really really high volume(100%). Then I suddenly found my self can't hear well with my right ear and had a hearing test that showed my right ear become weak. After a while I found my other ear become weak too. I don't know why ? even I stopped using headphones!

​@@mazenmohammad7452hello how are you now

But headphone manufacturers and software companies don't make money from that.

The whistling you have in your right ear is most likely tinnitus and can occur with or without exposure to noise. Using headphones at a quiet volume poses no additional risk.

@@AscentAudMcLean Thank you for replying 😊

​@@AscentAudMcLeanyeah mine also have same problem whistling sound from my right ear but i only hear at silent surrounding ..does it effect ear or can be recovered...i am sensitive to loud volume but while conversations it is normal no problem ...does my ear is damaged??

Definitely do your research. Look for noise reduction ratings that allow for safe listening.

Sounds like you are very cautious with your hearing. Nice job!

@@AscentAudMcLean Yeah, I am. I was never big on high volume to begin with, but ever since I've been diagnosed with tinnitus in 2016, I keep the volume low and I can fully enjoy the audio, no need to go higher. :)

We recommend you see a physician if you have pain in your ear.

That sounds like a infection! It can be caused by the fact your trapping moisture in your ears I think

Great question, no wearing headphones with quiet output will not cause hearing loss. Just be aware that what one person thinks is "little sound" another may perceive as loud. We can't know for sure the dB level of the sound in your headphones.

Is this also the case for iems? or does prolonged use of iems (without volume output, just having them in your ears) cause damage over time?

Earbuds if you turn the volume up way to high

They can be equally bad if there is nowhere for the sound to escape. Typically, earbuds have a higher SPL at the eardrum because they sit deep in the canal and fit snugly so no sound leaks out. Both are perfectly fine if the volume is set low.

@@AscentAudMcLean This sounds even more damaging with IEM earbuds based on the term of "nowhere for the sound to escape"? IEM is designed to seal the ear canal at the best it could.

You are probably experiencing tinnitus. Go and have your hearing tested and share what it is you are hearing.

I'm sorry to hear of your sister's hearing loss. Exposure to loud noise does cause hearing loss and at a level of (110 dB) it can cause hearing damage in just minutes. Loud volumes are very unsafe. Here is a guide to see how loud is too loud. Best to your sister. www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/what_noises_cause_hearing_loss.html

If you have pain in your ears, please consider getting it checked. While at it, a hearing test and tinnitus assessment would be helpful. The ringing is called tinnitus. If it becomes bothersome there are some masking techniques to consider.

Hi Betty. Are you wearing the earphones to block out external noises? If they are just sitting in your ear and no sound is coming out of them, then no they will not cause hearing loss.

Thanks for sharing

I have $3 headphones should i stop using this?

No actually if you buy something good and search before buying you wouldn't say that because many 70 $ headphones are good

That's great! Safe listening.