Do headphones or earbuds increase your risk of hearing loss?

Yes. Listening with headphones or earbuds at a moderate volume can damage your hearing over time. Ears can be damaged by the loudness of a noise, but also by the length of exposure. Louder noises cause hearing damage much faster than quieter ones, but quieter ones can still cause damage over time. For example, some earbuds at 100% volume on an iPhone can hit noise levels of 112dB for the wearer, leading to hearing damage in minutes. At 60% volume, the same earbuds measure approximately 80 dB, which is safe for several hours of listening.

If you’ve noticed ringing afterwards, our guide to tinnitus and treatment is worth reading, and you can also find out about other causes of ear canal damage. For more, browse the Hearing Health category page.