A makeup artist recently took to Instagram to share a terrifying experience that shook her confidence in something as ordinary as earphones. She revealed that during a long journey to Delhi, she had her wireless earphones on continuously for nearly eight hours. The following morning, she noticed some hearing loss in her left ear. At first, she assumed it was temporary and waited two days, only to be told by a doctor that she had lost almost 45% of her hearing capacity in that ear.  

The diagnosis, according to her doctor, was linked to her prolonged use of earphones. What followed was a painful treatment process that involved strong medication and direct steroid injections into her ear, with the warning that any delay in treatment would have caused permanent and irreversible hearing loss. After days of follow-up procedures, she was lucky enough to regain her hearing.   

She concluded her post with a cautionary message: hearing loss can creep up silently, and a delay of even a few days can make the damage permanent.

Her story comes at a time when health authorities are also sounding the alarm about the potential harm earphones can cause to hearing. The Union Health Ministry in February issued a letter warning of hearing loss linked to excessive earphone and headphone use, especially among the young.  

Director General of Health Services Prof (Dr) Atul Goel urged states and medical colleges to create awareness, stressing that prolonged exposure to loud music could cause “irreversible hearing damage.” He advised keeping audio device volumes under 50 decibels for no more than two hours a day, taking breaks, and preferring well-fitted or noise-cancelling headphones. The letter also flagged the risks of excessive screen time, loud gaming sounds, and high-decibel public events, urging safeguards to protect the younger generation’s hearing and cognitive health.

But what is the harm?

Earphones and headphones have become part of our everyday life, whether for music, movies, work calls, or simply drowning out background noise. But the science is becoming increasingly clear: they are not harmless. A 2022 study reviewing leisure listening habits concluded that earphones pose a significant threat of noise-induced hearing loss, one of the most common types of sensorineural hearing loss after age-related decline.  

Another study on Swedish adolescents found that those who listened for three or more hours at volumes of 85 decibels or higher were far more likely to report tinnitus and measurable loss of hearing thresholds.   

World Health Organisation warns that nearly 50% of teenagers and young adults between the ages of 12 and 35 in middle- and high-income countries are listening to music at unsafe levels. 

The risk is not confined to teenagers. A study conducted in Kaduna, Nigeria, found that headphone users had significantly poorer hearing thresholds compared to non-users, with 17.6% showing hearing loss against just 7.4% in the control group.  

Research also highlights that using earphones in noisy environments amplifies the damage, with one study noting that individuals in such conditions were 4.5 times more likely to develop hearing loss. When earphones are used for over 80 minutes daily in already loud surroundings, the risk multiplies to nearly five times higher than average. 

What really causes hearing loss?

The science behind this is rooted in how our ears work. The cochlea, a delicate spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear, contains hair cells topped with stereocilia. These cells are responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals for the brain.  

Repeated exposure to loud noise overstimulates these fragile structures, damaging or destroying them permanently. Once gone, they cannot regenerate. Prolonged misuse of earphones, therefore, accelerates hearing decline, ageing the ears up to 50% faster than normal. Someone in their 50s who has consistently blasted music through earbuds might end up with the hearing capacity of someone in their 80s. 

What are the warning signs? 

Dr Bansal, Professor in ENT at PGIMER Chandigarh, cautions that prolonged use of earphones can have long-term consequences: “With very long and excessive use of earphones, there can eventually be some degree of hearing loss. Apart from this, patients may also experience issues such as frequent headaches, behavioural changes, and heat-related discomfort.” 

Dr Bansal explains that people should watch out for subtle changes in hearing. “One red flag is when a person feels they can hear someone speaking but misses out on certain words—especially similar-sounding ones. This indicates poor speech discrimination,” he noted.  

The early signs of noise-induced hearing loss are often subtle, which is why it is frequently ignored until the damage becomes significant. One of the first symptoms is tinnitus, a persistent ringing or buzzing sound in the ears that often follows exposure to loud noise.  

People may also notice that higher-pitched sounds, such as birds chirping or speech consonants, are harder to hear. Conversations, especially in noisy environments like restaurants or public transport, begin to feel muffled, and there may be a constant need to increase the volume on televisions or smartphones. Many also find themselves repeatedly asking others to speak louder or to repeat themselves. 

Other warning signs include a heightened sensitivity to certain sounds, where everyday noises suddenly feel unbearable. Some may develop hypersensitivity or even experience an earache and discharge if an underlying infection is triggered.  

Doctors stress that even if routine hearing tests appear normal, early damage might already be underway, sometimes referred to as “hidden hearing loss.” Emerging concerns also point to the excessive use of noise-cancelling headphones, which, while protecting against external sound, may interfere with how the brain processes auditory information.

Some doctors suggest that prolonged reliance on noise cancellation could contribute to auditory processing disorders, making it harder for the brain to make sense of sounds in complex environments.

How can you protect your ears?

Protecting your hearing does not require giving up earphones altogether, but it does require smarter listening habits. Experts advise that volume levels should remain below 60% of a device’s maximum capacity. The World Health Organisation considers 80 decibels safe for up to eight hours of listening. Beyond that threshold, the safe exposure window drops dramatically.  

Dr Bansal recommends moderation and mindful listening habits: “If it’s not a private call, use the speaker instead of headphones. Try to cut down on prolonged use and always take intermittent breaks.” 

He added that if earphones are absolutely necessary, over-the-ear headphones that fully cover the ear are a better option than small Bluetooth earbuds. He also suggested keeping the volume at an optimal level, never excessively loud. 

Technology can help too. Many devices and apps now come with built-in sound exposure monitoring or volume-limiting features. These tools can alert users when they exceed safe listening thresholds, helping them stay mindful of their habits.  

Routine hearing check-ups are another safeguard. Even subtle changes in hearing thresholds can be picked up during an audiometry test, providing an early warning before severe loss sets in. And if symptoms such as ringing in the ears, persistent muffled sounds, or difficulty hearing high-frequency tones appear, seeking medical advice immediately can make the difference between recovery and permanent damage. 

Also read: New gene therapy restores hearing in deaf children for the first time.