Earbuds and Hearing Loss

Don’t worry, we’re not here to tell you to throw out your beloved earbuds. But it is important to be aware of how earbuds and hearing loss go hand in hand. Earbuds are small, easily portable, and deliver great sound quality. But because they fit snugly into the ear canal, they can also damage your hearing if used too loudly or for too long. Exposure to loud noise is one of the most common causes of hearing loss. When sound waves enter the ear canal, they cause the eardrum to vibrate. This vibration is passed along to tiny bones in the middle ear, which then transmit the soundwaves to the cochlea, a snail-shaped structure in the inner ear.

The cochlea is filled with fluid and lined with delicate hair cells. These hair cells convert the soundwaves into electrical signals that are sent to the brain. With loud noise, these hair cells can be damaged or destroyed. Once they are gone, they cannot grow back, and hearing loss is permanent.

Earbuds and Hearing Loss

Earbuds can reach high volumes—up to 115 decibels (dB). That’s as loud as a chainsaw! And because they sit right next to your eardrum, earbuds can damage your hearing more quickly than other types of headphones.

So how can you protect your hearing? The best way is to avoid using earbuds at high volumes for long periods of time. If you must use them for a long time, take breaks every few hours to give your ears a rest.

If you’re worried about your hearing, there are some simple tests you can do at home.

Simple Hearing Tests

One is the whisper test—if you can’t hear someone whispering from two feet away, you may have hearing loss. Another is the BBC test, which uses a series of beeps to check how well you hear high-pitched sounds.

There are other ways to tell if you’re damaging your hearing, even if you don’t use earbuds. One is to test how well you can hear high-pitched sounds. Hold a finger up to your thumb and say “thump.” Now say “tweet” as loudly as you can. If you can hear the difference, you have good hearing at high frequencies.

Another test is to see if you can hear someone talking when there is background noise. Have a friend start talking in a normal voice while you’re in a noisy place, like a bar or restaurant. See if you can still understand what they are saying.

If you’re having trouble hearing people in noisy places, or if you can’t hear high-pitched sounds, it might be time to see an audiologist. An audiologist can give you a hearing test and recommend ways to protect your hearing.

Final Thoughts on Earbuds and Hearing Loss

If you think you may have hearing loss, it’s important to see a doctor or audiologist for a comprehensive hearing test. Hearing loss is treatable, and the sooner it’s diagnosed, the better.

So go ahead and enjoy your music—just be sure to do it safely. Your ears will thank you!