Are Your Earbuds Damaging Your Hearing? | What You Need to Know About Safe Listening
Walk through your local downtown, step onto a transit bus, or visit any gym, and you’ll see one thing in common: almost everyone is wearing earbuds. Staying “connected” is the name of the game these days. People have a hard time passing up any opportunity to plug in and tune out.
But there is a hidden cost to this constant connection.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 1.1 billion young people worldwide are at risk of permanent hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices.
Audiology First has a mission that goes beyond selling hearing aids. We are dedicated to proactive hearing care and brain health. Understanding the impact of your daily habits is the first step in preserving your ability to connect with the world around you.
The Science of Sound: How Loud Is Too Loud?
To understand the risk, we have to look inside the ear.
Your inner ear contains thousands of tiny, delicate sensory cells called hair cells. These cells convert sound vibrations into electrical signals that your brain interprets as music or speech.
When you blast music through earbuds, these hair cells get overworked or even permanently damaged. Think of it like walking on a patch of grass: a few footsteps won’t hurt, but if a thousand people walk over it every day, the grass eventually flattens and dies.
Unlike grass, these hair cells do not grow back.
Demystifying Decibels (dB)
Sound is measured in decibels (dB). Because the decibel scale is logarithmic, a small increase in number represents a massive increase in physical pressure on your eardrum.
From a practical standpoint:
- The louder the sound, the shorter the time it takes to cause damage.
- In many Canadian safety models, the safe exposure time halves with every 3 dB increase.
In other words, what feels like a small volume bump can drastically increase your risk.
The Earbud Factor
Earbuds are particularly risky because they sit directly inside the ear canal, much closer to the eardrum than traditional over-ear headphones.
This concentrates sound at damaging levels very quickly. Add background noise (traffic, wind, gym music), and people often turn the volume up even more—sometimes without realizing how loud it has become.
Typical earbuds can reach:
- 85–110 dBA at high volumes
- Some models up to 120 dBA
At these levels, hearing damage can occur in minutes, not hours.
Are You at Risk? The Canadian Context
This isn’t just a global issue.
According to the Government of Canada, approximately 19% of Canadian adults already have some form of hearing loss, and many are unaware of it.
Among younger Canadians, the trend is especially concerning. It’s common to see teens listening at volumes so loud that others can hear their music—levels that are often sufficient to cause long-term damage.
Your Guide to Safe Listening: 5 Actionable Tips
Protecting your hearing doesn’t mean giving up music. It just means listening smarter.
1. Follow the 60/60 Rule
Listen at no more than 60% of maximum volume for 60 minutes at a time.
2. Limit the Level
Most smartphones include safety features. On iPhone:
- Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Headphone Safety → Reduce Loud Audio
- Set a hard limit around 75–80 dBA.
3. Choose the Right Gear
Noise-cancelling headphones reduce background noise so you don’t need to crank the volume.
4. Give Your Ears a Break
After an hour of listening, take at least 10 minutes of quiet time.
5. Recognize the Warning Signs
Early symptoms include:
- Tinnitus: ringing or buzzing
- Muffled hearing: feeling like cotton in your ears
- High-pitch difficulty: trouble hearing birds or children’s voices
When to Seek Help
Hearing loss is often gradual and painless, which makes it easy to ignore.
Common signs include:
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
- Turning up TV or radio volume too high
- Difficulty hearing in noisy environments
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears
- Avoiding social situations
Untreated hearing loss is linked to increased cognitive load and higher risk of dementia. Hearing care is brain care.
Final Takeaway
Keeping your ears sharp keeps your brain sharp, your relationships strong, and your quality of life intact.
Your hearing is precious—and once it’s gone, it cannot be fully restored. But small, smart changes today can protect it for decades to come.
Don’t guess about your hearing health.
Audiology First is here to be a trusted part of your total healthcare plan.
If you’re concerned,
schedule your comprehensive hearing assessment with us today.
