30 May 2017
What We Don’t Hear About Earbuds
Francisco Arturo Sánchez Campa, Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery
Hospital Regional No. 1 “Dr. Carlos McGregor Sánchez Navarro”
Morelos, México
Earphones have become a daily “gadget” of modern society. Every day, we see people on buses, working out, or hanging out at home with some type of music listening device. However, very few people are aware of the potential ear damage caused by the devices. Depending on the volume and the type of headphone, there can be damage to the outer, middle or inner ear.
Mycotic infections in the outer ear can result from humidity generated by intracanalicular earbuds, which obstruct the external ear canal and can cause skin inflammation, earache and a greenish discharge known as otitis externa. Also, when placing the earbuds in the ear, some wax can be pushed toward the inner third of the external ear canal, which can cause conductive type hearing loss.
Volume intensity can produce sensorial damage and provoke acoustic trauma if the volume is too loud. It is suggested that music volume should be comparable to that of normal daily conversations.
Recommendations
- Use of the headphone type of earbud, which does not block the external ear canal and produces less humidity, reducing the risk of infection in the outer ear
- Periodically replacing the sponge or packaging of the earphones which come in constant contact with your skin and ear canal
- Listening to music at normal volume because the constant use of these devices with high decibels can cause sensorial damage to the inner ear, better known as chronic acoustic trauma which later on can cause irreversible hearing loss
About the Author:
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Department of Medicine
Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Physician
Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), México, D.F.
Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Physician
Hospital Regional Tipo B de Alta especialidad “Centenario de la Revolución Mexicana”
Instituto de Seguridad Social al Servicio de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE)
Member of the Consejo Mexicano de Otorrinolaringología and Cirugía de Cabeza and Cuello
Member of the Sociedad Mexicana de Otorrinolaringología and Cirugía de Cabeza and Cuello
Member of the Colegio de Otorrinolaringología and Cirugía de Cabeza and Cuello del Estado de Morelos, México