Headphones aren’t always healthy, here’s how to reduce damage

By Namita S Kalla | July 02, 2025 | Image: Canva

Headphones aren’t always healthy, here’s how to reduce damage

Impacts hearing ability

Consistently high volume levels damage sensitive hair cells in your inner ear leading to permanent hearing loss

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Causes painful infections

Using unclean headphones can introduce bacteria into your ears, causing discomfort, swelling and painful infections

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Block ear canal

Frequent headphone use pushes earwax deeper, leading to blockages and temporary reduction in hearing clarity

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Causes posture problems

Wearing headphones for long hours often leads to slouched posture causing neck strain and upper back stiffness

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Reduces noise exposure

Switching to noise-cancelling headphones helps you listen at lower volumes by reducing surrounding environmental noise

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Causes mental fatigue

Extended headphone use can increase  mental fatigue by over-stimulating your auditory nerves and brain sensory centres

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Take listening breaks

Following the 60/60 rule (60% volume  for 60 minutes) helps reduce long-term damage to your hearing

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Choose right earpiece size

Using ill-fitting ear tips causes pressure  on your ear canal and can lead to irritation  and inner ear pain

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Keep headphones clean

Regularly cleaning your earphones with alcohol wipes helps prevent bacterial build-up and reduces chances of infections

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Monitor sound leakage

Loud headphone use can leak sound,  disturb others nearby and also indicate that your listening levels are too high

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