Are Earbuds or Headphones Bad for Your Ears?
Understanding Decibels and Safe Limits
Sound is measured in decibels (dB). The decibel scale measures everything from soft whispers to extremely loud jet engines. Understanding harmful levels can help you protect your hearing as you move through life.
Safe vs. Unsafe Sound Levels
Sounds at or below 70 dB are generally safe. Examples include whispers around 30 dB, vacuums (70 dB), and everyday conversations that average 60 dB.1
Noises between 71 and up to 100 dB, like lawnmowers and power tools, can damage hearing with repeated exposure. Sounds at 120 dB +, like jackhammers, can cause instant harm.1
When it comes to using earbuds and headphones, experts recommend the following 60/60 rule: listening at 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time.2
This helps ensure you’re not subjecting your ears to loud noises for extended periods, which can permanently damage hearing. It also gives your ears time to breathe and recover.
Why Earbuds May Pose Higher Risks Than Headphones
Here’s why:
Since earbuds sit inside the ear, the sound is much closer to the eardrum and if the volume is too high, it can cause damage to your hearing much faster. If the volume is too high, it can damage your hearing faster.
Earbuds can make sound more intense, too, since they sit closer to the eardrum. If you listen for too long, this increases the risk for prolonged loud noise exposure.
While risky for anyone, earbuds can be particularly troublesome for musicians, who often use “in-ear” monitors to stream what is happening on stage directly into their ears.
Earbuds can also push earwax and bacteria deeper into the ears, causing blockages and infections. This can actually be a temporary cause of hearing loss.
Since headphones go over the ears and don’t sit inside the ear canal, they send sound into the ear differently and may be less harmful at the same volume.
No matter your career, age, or which device you choose, remember the 60/60 rule: Don’t listen at more than 60% volume for more than 60 minutes at a time.
Recognizing the Signs of Overuse
Have you ever had ringing ears after a concert or nightclub, or perhaps after using earbuds or headphones? This is called a sudden threshold change and can be a sign of a hearing loss.
Some additional signs of hearing loss from overusing earbuds and headphones include:
Muffled sounds and speech.
Difficulty keeping up with conversations.
Misunderstanding what people are saying.
Turning the TV volume up, especially when everyone else says it’s too loud.
Don't wait!
Strategies to Protect Hearing Without Giving up Music
- 1.
Follow 60/60 Rule
As mentioned earlier, following the 60/60 rule - listening at 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time can help protect your hearing for the long term. - 2.
Keep Volume Low
If you’re using over-the-ear headphones or or noise-cancelling earbuds, always err on the side of caution: keep volume low. If someone near you can hear the audio, it’s too loud. - 3.
Take Breaks
Taking listening breaks to allow your ears to get proper airflow and give them a break from constant noise. - 4.
Give Your Ears a Break
Alternate between using speakers, earbuds, and headphones, to give your ears a break from constant, direct sound streaming. - 5.
Clean Your Devices
Keep your devices clean of debris and earwax to reduce the risk of ear infections.
Devices and Features That Support Ear Health
Here are five things to look for:
- Look for devices with active noise canceling and a good seal around or in your ear, so you’re not having to blast music to block outside sounds.
- Use the Volume Limiter feature available on both Android and iPhone. Turning this on will restrict the maximum volume of headphones and earbuds.
- Use the headphone notifications on iPhones and Apple Watches - they alert you when the volume is at an unsafe level.
- Consider over-the-ear headphones or alternating between those and earbuds so you’re not constantly subjecting your eardrum to close, direct noise exposure.
- Use safety apps on your phone, such as HearSafe, which run in the background to set safe volume levels without you even noticing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do noise-cancelling headphones damage hearing?
Are AirPods bad for your ears?
Does wearing headphones cause permanent hearing loss?
Which is safer: earbuds or headphones?
How do I know if I’ve damaged my hearing from listening habits?
Sources:
1 American Academy of Audiology: Levels of Noise in Decibels audiology.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PR23-Poster-NoiseChart-24x36-1.pdf.
2 California Hearing Center: What is the 60/60 rule in audiology? alhearing.com/what-is-the-60-60-rule-in-audiology/.
