Wearing Headphones Every Day Isn’t Bad For Your Ears — But This Common Habit Might Be

Plus, what sound level is best for your daily calls and music listening.

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If you peek outside, it’s pretty likely you’ll see several people running errands with a pair of headphones on. In our digital-first world, many of us use headphones all day long at work, on our commute and even at home when we’re cleaning or exercising.

Headphones are a convenient (and polite) way to listen to music, videos or calls in public. But does the direct sound exposure impact your ears and hearing any differently than other sound sources? Are headphones more damaging to your ear health?

Below, experts share what you should know about safe headphone use.

Listening to music or calls through headphones is no different than listening via a speaker.

Our ears don’t know where sound is coming from, said Catherine V. Palmer, an audiologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Sound can be damaging whether it’s coming from car speakers, living room speakers or headphones, she added.

“One is not more dangerous than another,” Palmer said.

There’s noise around you all the time, said Dr. Kenny Lin, an otolaryngologist at Houston Methodist, and headphones don’t pose a specific danger.

“It’s just the volume at which and the duration over which you are listening to music or phone calls or whatever the case might be,” Lin said. “As long as you’re using your headphones at a reasonable volume, it is no........

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