Man claims his noise-cancelling earbuds caused a hole in his eardrum: What you should know about using earbuds every day

earbuds

Do you also use earbuds a lot? Maybe you can’t imagine a commute, a workout, or even a quiet evening without your favorite tunes streaming directly into your ears. But a recent tweet by a man claiming to have developed a hole in his eardrum after using noise-cancelling earbuds has reminded us that even the fanciest gadgets come with risks.

According to the X user, he had been using 50dB active noise-cancelling (ANC) earbuds for two years, clocking three to four hours daily in recent months. When he felt sudden pain in his ears, a doctor confirmed a perforated eardrum and prescribed ear drops, asking him to return in a few days. He warned followers: “These things may look fancy, but there are high health risks associated with them.”

eardrums

At first glance, it might sound like a terrifying story for anyone glued to their earbuds. But experts caution against jumping to conclusions. Dr Maulesh Patel, an ENT specialist, explained under his post that direct damage to the eardrum from ANC earbuds is extremely uncommon. “Perforations are rare unless sound levels exceed 120 decibels,” he said. Most cases of ear damage are actually linked to infections or prolonged exposure to high volumes rather than the noise-cancelling technology itself.

So what do ANC earbuds actually do? These earbuds use microphones and tiny speakers to “cancel” background noise, giving you the sensation of quiet even in a busy environment. This can make listening at lower volumes easier because you don’t have to fight external sounds. That said, overuse or listening at loud volumes for hours every day can still strain your ears. Prolonged use may contribute to hearing loss over time, irritation in the ear canal, or in rare cases, aggravate infections.

The key takeaway? Your earbuds don’t have to be the enemy, but moderation is crucial. Keep the volume at safe levels, limit continuous listening to a couple of hours, and give your ears time to rest. If you ever experience pain, ringing, or sudden hearing changes, see an ENT specialist rather than ignoring it.

Your earbuds are amazing tools for focus, music, and entertainment—but they aren’t invincible, and neither are your ears. A little care can make sure that your love for music doesn’t come at a high price.