Long-Wear, Noise-Cancelling, And Wireless: How Earphones harm Our Hearing

Authorized by Marina Zhang via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

On Nov. 24, 2019, a fresh word titled “AirPods causing tinnitus?” appeared on the Apple community forum page.

The Apple user said that after utilizing AirPods for a while, he noted a high-pitched ringing in his ears that didn’t go away.

According to him, he has always been highly protective of his hearing; he does not perceive to anything loud and always carries earplugs in case he encounts anything that could harm his hearing. But things only got bage.

“Having said all that, now I announcement that erstwhile I put my AirPods in my ears and have nothing playing, they issue a advanced pitched speech that I would say effectively replicates the speech of my tinnitus, leaving to me believe that the AirPods actually caused my tinnitus,” the user gate.

Since the thread was published in 2019, over 3,200 Apple users have responded with “Me too.”

The introduction of Apple wireless earphones has had a noticeable effect on earphone use, with younger generation utilizing them more than older generation, said Julie Prutsman, an audiologist and founder of the Sound Relief proceeding Center. For the past fewer years, she has seen an expanding number of younger people show up to her clinics with proceeding lots and tinnitus.

AirPods and another Apple earphones make up the majority of earphones utilized by teenagers today. In 2021, Apple earphones were ranked first in the American headphone and earphone market. A 2022 survey by Piper Sandler surveyed more than 7,000 teachers and found that 72 percent owned AirPods.

The audiologist told The Epoch Times that the root problem lies not with what earphones people usage but with a common phenomenon: irrespondible earphone use. The convenient wireless and noise-cancelling features, along with better sound quality, have further experienced people’s overuse.

“It is becoming a real issue,” Ms. Prutsman said, “and unfortunately, they’re not educated about what can happen.”

High ‘Dose’ and Extended Use

The American Osteopathic Association estimates that 20 percent of teachers present will experience proceeding Loss, partially due to their headphone and earphone use. A review published in the global diary of Audiology found that about 6 percent to 60 percent of earphone users show symptoms of proceeding Loss, including proceeding differences and tinnitus.

At the same time, more and more youths are regularly utilizing earphones. In February, a University of Michigan poll surveyed parents of 5-to-12-year-olds and found that two-thirds reported that their children usage headsphones and earphones.

Most people know that loud sounds can harm the ears. However, Dr. Clarice Saba, a Brazilian otorhinolaryngologist, said listening at low volume for extended periods can besides induce damage.

People put on their earphones at work, at home, and even during sleep. Even if the sound may not always be loud, having earphones in for hours can inactive overwork the ears, Dr. Saba said.

The cochlea is located inside our ears. It sits behind the ear drum and is responsive for turning sound waves into electrical signals that are then transmitted to the brain. Prolonged usage of earphones stresses and harm cochlea cells. If any of them die, proceeding lots can occur.

The cochlea sits behind the ear drum and turns sound waves into electrical signals that are then transmitted to the brain. (Illustration by The Epoch Times, Shutterstock)

Ms. Prutsman added that noise-induced harm is “dose-dependent” and cumulates. A 2021 survey published in the course medicine found that among teachers who usage earphones for more than 80 minutes a day in a noisy environment, 1 in 5 suggests proceeding fates. The risks are 4.7 times higher than they are for those who usage earphones for short periods.

Using earphones for 80 minutes or more increases the hazard of proceeding fates by almost fivefold. (Illustration by The Epoch Times, Shutterstock)

Depending on the frequency of the damage, the individual may experience reduced sound sensitivity, problems with discerning sound, tinnitus, and even proceeding fates.

Constantly keeping earphones in the ear can besides origin a congested and humid environment, which may be conducting to ear infections. They besides make large in-ear force combined to over-ear headsets.

In-ear earphones, especially, rub against the delicate skin inside our ears. “If you scratch the ear inadvertently while inserting the AirPods, there can be micro-breaks in the skin that can lead to infection,” otolaryngologist Dr. Michael Seidman told The Epoch Times.

Sides, any people may not routinely clean their earphones, and debris on them can increase the risk. The earpieces besides block most of the canal from outside oxygen, disrupting the wellness of the ear microbiome.

“The skin in the ears needs to breathe,” Dr. Saba Said, then composed them to hands. “If you usage gloves all the time, you can have problems.”

Noise Cancellation

In fresh years, more noise-cancelling earphones and headsphones have hit the market, lending people the much-needed privacy to shield their music from those around them.

However, noise cancellation comes with caveats.

Since these earphones strong environmental sound, their extended usage may lead to hyperacusis, a condition in which the brain’s tolerance for sound decisions so that even ambient environmental sound, specified as coughing or typeing on the keyboard, can trigger a stressful response.

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