The Danger of Headphones

If you were to head out onto the streets of just about any town or city in the United States there’s a good chance many of the people you see out and about have headphones in.

Sure, the Gen Z’ers are the ones more likely to have headphones, but that doesn’t mean the other generations aren’t also wearing them more than ever.

The use per individual has skyrocketed since bluetooth connections helped us sever the wired connection to our devices and allowed us to listen without becoming entangled in cords.

That’s definitely convenient, but I have to say, there are some serious concerns about using headphones as they relate to the health of your ears and other organs in your body, as well as your exposure to danger.

That is why I wanted to write an article about this today: to help raise the alarm about potential harms and offer you solutions, too.

Headphone use and the damage they produce can sneak up on you slowly, but surely, so it’s important to be informed now (or to take this information and pass it on to others) so you can protect your hearing and your life.

The Obvious and Not So Obvious Dangers of Headphone Use

There are all kinds of headphones, from big, bulky over-the-ear models to slim, in-ear models to the older versions you used to use with the Sony Walkman CD players of old.

All of them pose some level of potential risk.

So, what are those risks?

1 - You May Be Playing Them Too Loud:

One of the things about headphones, especially in-ear models, is they port the sounds directly into your ear canal.

And while the headphones might not seem to be all that loud, there’s a good chance they’re playing above the safe limit.

According to the CDC (trust them as much as you will), you should avoid listening to sounds in your headphones that exceed 70 decibels for more than a few hours.

Most headphones can push sound to as high as 105-110 decibels which is considerably louder.

Problematically, it doesn’t take a significant amount of exposure to cause damage. Noises in excess of 105-110db (equivalent to a power saw from 3 inches away) are loud enough to cause hearing damage within a few minutes.

Sounds around 85 decibels (equivalent to the sound of a leaf blower or lawnmower) can cause damage within 2-3 hours.

Most people listen to headphones well above that limit.

To achieve safe listening levels, you should keep your listening level to roughly 50-60% of capacity.

But, it’s not just about how loud it is, but how long as I mentioned above.

Many people listen to music with headphones for over an hour, which can be risky. Especially for those listening for hours and hours.

Listening at a comfortable level is safer, but it's important to keep an eye on both how loud and how long you listen.

Thankfully, phones like the iPhone and many Androids have warning systems that will notify you if you’ve been exposed for too long, as well as features that prevent the headphones from playing louder than a certain level.

If you want to enjoy your music or podcasts, utilizing those features will help to protect you.

Overall, hearing loss, tinnitus, and other problems may result from excess exposure.

2 - They Can Cause You to Get Hurt:

One thing people don’t realize when they listen to something with headphones is that they cancel out outside noise, which can expose them or others to danger.

Imagine having headphones on and not hearing the approach of a car that has accidentally driven off the street and is headed toward you.

Or being unable to hear someone scream for help while you work away with headphones.

While headphone use is not a chief concern, it’s important to reconsider when and where you use them, as they can shut you off in your own little world and expose you to certain dangers. A great way to listen while you walk or run and stay safe is to listen with only one ear pod so your other ear can listen to sounds around you.

3 - Wireless Headphones Could Expose You to Potentially Harmful Electronic Signals

I’ll admit that Bluetooth headphones have revolutionized the way we consume audio, and they’ve greatly improved productivity for many people.

Bluetooth technology operates in the 2.4 to 2.485 GHz frequency range, similar to Wi-Fi routers and microwave ovens.

Now, even though these devices emit non-ionizing radiation, which is generally considered safer than ionizing radiation, concerns have been raised about the potential long-term effects of continuous exposure.

According to a study published in the Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy (Yakymenko et al., 2015), prolonged exposure to radiofrequency EMR can lead to oxidative stress, which is associated with various adverse health effects, including neurodegenerative diseases.

There’s also a growing body of evidence suggesting even low levels of non-ionizing radiation can have biological impacts.

The International Journal of Oncology published a review highlighting that EMR exposure could lead to symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and even cognitive impairments in some individuals, a condition collectively referred to as electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS).

Although the scientific community does not completely agree on the relationship between EMR and EHS, these symptoms have been reported frequently enough to warrant further investigation.

Plus, there are some epidemiological studies that have indicated a potential link between prolonged EMR exposure and certain forms of cancer, although I should stress that definitive conclusions aren’t available for this.

If you wish to be extra careful with Bluetooth, consider that the Environmental Health Trust advises minimizing the duration and frequency of Bluetooth headset use to limit exposure to EMR.

Using wired headphones, keeping wireless devices at a distance when not in use, and/or using a wired speaker system are easy ways to reduce your reliance on Bluetooth. My hope is that, given the rapid advancements in wireless technology and the increasing prevalence of Bluetooth devices in daily life, we’ll be able to get a clear answer on the harms they cause.

Headphones Aren’t Awful But Come with Risks

I would never tell you to avoid headphones.

But, you now see that they come with risks.

If you’re concerned about Bluetooth, use wired models instead.

If you’re concerned about hearing loss, use the headphone safety features and pay attention to warnings you get, and you’ll be safe.

If you want to be aware of what’s going on around you, I suggest listening with just one headphone in as you go about your business.

Following these steps will help you get the most enjoyment out of technology and do so safely.