What Are the Dangers of Improper Earphone Use? How to Wear Earphones Properly?

 

For many people, earphones are an indispensable part of daily life. Whether jogging, commuting, watching TV shows, gaming, or working, wearing earphones allows one to immerse themselves in their world without external disturbances. Some even wear earphones while sleeping. But is prolonged earphone use truly harmless?  

 

The Dangers of Improper Earphone Use  

The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted in its 2021 *World Hearing Report* that approximately 1.1 billion young people worldwide are at significant risk of permanent hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to loud music. Additionally, around 200 million people suffer from chronic ear infections.  

The main risks of improper earphone use can be categorized into two areas:  

Hearing Damage  

Our ears consist of four main parts: the auricle, external auditory canal, middle ear, and inner ear. Sound primarily reaches the inner ear through air conduction, where it is collected by the auricle and transmitted via the external auditory canal to the eardrum. Vibrations of the eardrum then move the ossicles in the middle ear, with the stapes transferring these vibrations to the cochlea in the inner ear. Hair cells in the cochlea convert the sound signals into electrical signals, which are sent to the brain via the auditory nerve, allowing us to perceive sound.  

However, prolonged earphone use, especially at high volumes, can lead to sustained stimulation of the ears, potentially damaging the cochlear hair cells. This can result in noise-induced hearing loss or tinnitus.  

Triggering Ear-Related Diseases  

• Ear Canal Abscesses: Most earphones come into direct contact with the auricle and the cartilage of the external auditory canal. Frequent use can cause repeated pressure and irritation, damaging the skin and increasing the risk of abscess formation, leading to pain or itching.  
• Otitis Externa: Long-term earphone use can reduce air circulation in the external auditory canal, increase humidity, and promote the growth of bacteria and fungi. Additionally, materials like silicone used in earphone tips can cause allergic reactions, such as redness and itching. Without regular cleaning, earphones may accumulate bacteria and dirt, which can enter the ear canal and cause infections. Sharing earphones also increases the risk of transmitting pathogens.  
• Cerumen Impaction: Prolonged use of in-ear earphones can hinder the natural discharge of earwax, stimulate excessive secretion by cerumen glands, and lead to blockages. Improper cleaning, such as using cotton swabs, may push the earwax deeper into the canal, forming cerumen impaction and causing discomfort or infection.

Particularly in noisy environments, people often raise earphone volume to achieve clear sound quality. However, sound levels exceeding 80 decibels and cumulative weekly exposure over 40 hours can harm the delicate hair cells in the inner ear, leading to hearing loss.  

Prolonged exposure to high-decibel noise not only causes direct ear problems like tinnitus and hearing loss but can also lead to other noise-related health issues, including ischemic heart disease, hypertension, sleep disorders, emotional distress, and cognitive impairments. These seemingly unrelated issues are intricately linked to long-term noise exposure.  

 

How to Use Earphones Correctly  

Control Earphone Usage Time and Volume  

To protect hearing, limit earphone use to no more than 60 minutes at a time and keep the volume below 60% of the maximum level.  

Maintain Earphone Hygiene  

Cultivate a habit of cleaning earphones regularly to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi, reducing the risk of infection.  

Choose Appropriate Earphone Types  

Opt for high-quality earphones or those with effective noise cancellation to enhance sound quality and minimize external noise interference.  

Select the Right Listening Environment  

Avoid using earphones in noisy environments like subways, buses, or busy streets. If necessary, use active noise-canceling earphones and avoid turning up the volume excessively. Keep the volume at the lowest level sufficient for clarity.  

Avoid Wearing Earphones While Sleeping  

Wearing earphones during sleep increases the risk of ear structure damage, leading to external ear infections. Moreover, sustained sound stimulation during sleep can cause auditory fatigue, noise-induced hearing loss, and keep the brain in a state of shallow sleep, affecting sleep quality and leading to poor mental condition the following day.