Noise cancelling headphones are a useful accessory in daily life.
Some wear them to stream music at the highest fidelity, others to tune out the chaos of the everyday, but with a growing market value of $13.1 billion, it is clear that everyone enjoys them.
However, an increasing amount of research is raising questions about the impact that these devices are having on their users’ hearing health.
Let’s dive into these questions and see which we can answer, but first, what are noise cancelling headphones?
The feature that separates standard headphones from the noise cancelling type is active noise control technology: a system that utilizes microphones to detect ambient sounds and produce sound waves that are the exact inverse of the detected noise.
When these opposing waves meet, they effectively cancel each other out, reducing the perception of external sounds, which can be advantageous in loud environments.
By diminishing background noise, headphone users will find that they can listen to their music or podcasts at lower volumes, reducing the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
According to the World Health Organization, exposure to sound levels above 75 decibels (dBA) can be harmful, and levels above 85 dBA can cause hearing damage if the daily exposure is prolonged.
By simply allowing for lower listening volumes, noise-cancelling headphones can help keep auditory exposure within safe limits, but there are some drawbacks.
Some studies suggest that a reliance on noise-cancelling headphones might have unintended consequences. In fact, some audiologists have observed an uptick in cases of auditory processing disorder, particularly among young adults who frequently use these devices.
This disorder affects the brain’s ability to interpret sounds, making it challenging to understand speech, especially in noisy environments.
The concern is that constant use of noise-cancelling headphones may deprive the brain of necessary auditory stimuli, which, in turn, might impair its ability to process sounds effectively.
Additionally, while active noise control technology reduces ambient noise, it doesn’t eliminate the risk of hearing damage from high-volume listening, so users with a proclivity for loud music might be tempted to increase the volume to unsafe levels.
Prolonged exposure to high volumes can still lead to noise induced hearing loss, regardless of noise-cancelling features, which can, on their own, lead to dizziness and discomfort.
As with most luxuries in life, the key to using noise-cancelling headphones safely is moderation.
Experts suggest limiting continuous headphone use to a couple of hours at a time. Giving your ears regular breaks helps reset your auditory system and prevents fatigue, much like taking screen breaks to rest your eyes, but ultimately, volume control remains the most important factor.
A good rule of thumb is the 60/60 guideline: listen at no more than 60% of the maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time. If someone next to you can hear your music, it’s too loud. That being said, blocking out the world entirely can be dangerous as well.
If you’re walking through traffic, waiting at a crosswalk, or cycling, headphones can prevent you from staying aware of your surroundings, so it’s safer to keep one ear open or use “transparency mode” if your device supports it.
Finally, it’s smart to schedule hearing checkups if you’re a frequent headphone user because catching early signs of hearing damage or processing difficulty can help you adjust your habits before more permanent problems set in.
Big Sky Audiology is present and ready to help you on your hearing journey, so if you are interested in scheduling an appointment, give us a call today or stop into our new office.
