An 18-year-old boy from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, has lost his hearing abilities after wearing TWS earphones for extended periods of time. It’s tough to fathom living without earbuds, especially if you have to travel by public transport or work long hours in a noisy workplace, yet using the device for extended periods of time has drawbacks.
Because most in-ear earphones lie deep in your ear canals, the consequences can be severe enough that you may wind up injuring your ears.
As per a report by TOI, the boy had lost his hearing due to an infection caused by using earphones excessively and for a prolonged period. Thanks to the surgery, the boy has now regained his normal hearing. When people wear earbuds for extended periods, the humidity in the ear canal increases, providing an ideal environment for bacteria and viruses to flourish. Doctors have explained that, similar to our body, the ear canal also needs ventilation. Keeping it closed for a long time leads to the buildup of sweat and subsequent infection.
“Just like our body, the ear canal also requires ventilation, and prolonged closure leads to the accumulation of sweat and subsequent infection,” doctors told TOI
If you use TWS earbuds a lot, you should be extra cautious and follow the below steps to prevent your ears from getting damaged.
– Try to limit the duration of using earbuds or headphones, especially at high volume levels.
– A general rule of thumb is to set the volume at not more than 60 per cent of the maximum level.
– Use earbuds with ANC as they can block out external noise more effectively, allowing you to listen at lower volume levels.
– Clean your ears regularly to prevent the accumulation of dirt, wax, or sweat, which can lead to infections.
– If possible, use over-ear headphones instead of earbuds, as they distribute sound more evenly and reduce the direct exposure of sound to the ear canal.
– In noisy environments, like Delhi metro or buses or busy streets, people tend to turn up the volume to block the outside noise. If you find yourself in such situations, consider using noise-canceling headphones or reducing the volume instead.