by Cody Ryder

Created on: November 15, 2008   Last Updated: January 07, 2012

Do headphones damage your ears? Headphones do not necessarily damage your ears. They can, but, if used properly, there isn't anything to worry about.

I used to believe the common misconception that using headphones on a regular basis would do damage to my hearing. I believed this up until I was about fourteen years old. Eventually though I became fed up with not being able to listen to the music I love out in public because I was afraid of headphones. So I decided to buy a pair of headphones and just risk it.

Well now, it has been quite a few years since I started using headphones and I haven't noticed any adverse effects on my hearing. I use them for at least one to two hours every day and my hearing is just as good as it ever was. The majority of what I listen to is hard rock, punk, or metal. So I listen to just about everything which would be considered harmful to your hearing.

I have had my hearing tested three times over the past five years (it was for an exam I had to take) and the doctor told me I scored high on the test. I don't have a problem hearing people when they whisper or hearing something from a distance. I never have and, even with my continued use of headphones, I can't foresee ever having any.

I am in no way saying that headphones can't damage hearing. If you are exposed to any sound over 85 decibels (db) for an extended period of time it can cause serious hearing damage. Overexposure to loud noise causes sensorineural hearing loss. This means that either the hair cells within the cochlea die or the auditory nerve becomes damaged. If this occurs than no hearing aid will help you. The only option will be a costly cochlear implant (which still may not be enough to truly help your hearing). This just means that you need to be cautious when using them.

All you need to avoid damage from listening to headphones is to keep the volume down. I know some people will complain about the music being different if it isn't blasted into your ears as loud as possible. But if you cut the volume down to a safer level (generally, if you think it's too loud, it really is) your ears will adjust over the course of a few hours to the new volume. You will adapt to the new volume and it will eventually sound just as good as the original volume.

So, do headphones damage your hearing? If you use them responsibly then no, they will not.

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