How many people are at risk of hearing damage from headphones?

Worldwide, more than one billion people between the ages of 12 and 34 are at risk of hearing loss from headphones and concerts. A review study involving approximately 19,000 participants shows that about a quarter of young people listen to music at volumes that are too loud. The WHO even estimates that there will be 2.5 billion people with hearing loss worldwide by 2050.

Why are in-ear headphones particularly harmful to your hearing?

In-ear headphones seal off the ear from the outside and sit very close to the eardrum. This interferes with the tensor tympani muscle, which normally protects the inner ear from loud noises. In addition, the ear’s natural self-cleaning process is disrupted by the compressed earwax.

What is the maximum volume at which you should listen to music through headphones?

The WHO recommends setting the volume to no more than 60 percent of the maximum level. The background noise level should not exceed 85 decibels. For comparison: a jackhammer produces about 80 decibels, while a symphony concert produces about 110 decibels.

What specific steps can I take to protect my ears when listening to music?

Whenever possible, listen to music through room speakers or over-ear headphones instead of in-ear models. Noise-canceling technology helps prevent you from turning the volume up unnecessarily high. Taking regular breaks from listening—for example, by going for a walk without headphones—provides additional relief for your ears.

What should I keep in mind when attending concerts to protect my hearing?

At concerts, it is recommended to wear hearing protection, such as earplugs. In addition, you should stand as far away from the speakers as possible. This can significantly reduce the risk of hearing damage caused by the often very high volume.

Hearing Damage Caused by Headphones

The Most Important Points at a Glance

Worldwide, more than one billion young people between the ages of 12 and 34 are at risk of hearing loss due to excessively loud music played through headphones and at concerts—about a quarter of them already listen at unhealthy volume levels.
In-ear headphones, in particular, pose a risk: They seal off the ear, impair the eardrum's natural protective mechanism, and also interfere with the ear canal's self-cleaning process.
The WHO recommends limiting the volume to a maximum of 60 percent and not exceeding a background noise level of 85 decibels in order to prevent, as much as possible, the 2.5 billion cases of hearing loss expected worldwide by 2050.

Billions of young people are at risk of hearing loss

Hearing damage
caused by headphones is a serious problem, as shown by a review study: Worldwide, about a quarter of young people listen to music
on their smartphones at volumes high enough to pose a risk of hearing damage
.

On the bus or train, while out for a walk, jogging, or at the gym—just pop in the headphones and off you go. Young people in particular listen to their favorite music everywhere—and usually at volumes that are far too loud. As a result, more than one billion people worldwide between the ages of 12 and 34 are at risk of hearing damage from headphones and concerts. This can lead to hearing loss. This is shown by a meta-analysis in which U.S. researchers synthesized data from 33 studies involving a total of 19,000 participants. “We found that about a quarter of young people listen to music on their smartphones with headphones at volumes that are unhealthy,” said study lead author Lauren Dillard of the Medical University of South Carolina. “In addition, half of young people are exposed to entertainment venues and concerts that play music too loudly.”

Why do headphones cause hearing loss?

For many people, headphones are constant companions in everyday life, just like a bowl and a wallet. From closed-back studio headphones to wireless in-ear headphones, 71 percent of Germans own headphones for listening to music, according to a survey commissioned by the digital industry association Bitkom. But many don’t realize that headphones can cause hearing damage if used incorrectly. In-ear headphones in particular—those that are placed directly in the ear canal—can significantly impair our hearing and lead to long-term damage. This is because they seal off the ear from the outside, block out ambient noise, and sit very close to the eardrum. This isolation affects the function of the tensor tympani muscle. This muscle is responsible for tightening the eardrum, thereby protecting the inner ear from loud noises. The tensor tympani muscle can perform this function more effectively when ambient noise is present. This allows the ear to better adjust to noise.

Impulse noise—such as that found in some computer games—places a particular strain on our ears. This is because such noise damages both the inner and outer hair cells, which are the sensory cells of the inner ear. Their function is to convert sound waves entering the ear into bioelectrical impulses that are transmitted to our brain.

In addition to hearing damage caused by headphones, in-ear headphones interfere with the ear’s natural self-cleaning process. This is because earwax—which moisturizes our ear canal and protects it from bacteria, water, and temperature fluctuations—is compressed when we use in-ear headphones for extended periods.

You can find more information on proper ear hygiene here.

2.5 billion people with hearing loss expected by 2050

As early as 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned in its “WorldReport on Hearing” that by 2050, approximately 2.5 billion people worldwide would have hearing loss. In 2021, the figure was about 1.6 billion. There is therefore an urgent need for action, especially in poorer countries, where health issues generally take a back seat.

Listen to music in the room or use over-ear headphones; avoid using in-ear headphones.
To ensure the volume isn’t too high, enable noise-canceling on your smartphone.
When attending concerts, use hearing protection (earplugs) and stand far away from the speakers.
Take breaks from listening and consciously avoid noise, for example, by taking a walk in nature or by turning off all devices at home that produce noise—such as the radio or TV—for a while.

WHO Guidelines: Inform Users About the Dangers of Loud Music

The WHO has developed guidelines to alert users to the risks of listening to music at excessively high volumes through headphones. The guidelines were developed in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and are not binding.

Manufacturers of smartphones and other music players should incorporate a system that measures volume and listening time and alerts users when their hearing is at risk.
Anyone listening to music with headphones should set the volume to no more than 60 percent of the maximum volume.
The background noise level should not exceed 85 decibels. For comparison: noise in a cafeteria is 65 decibels, traffic noise is 75 decibels, a jackhammer is 80 decibels, and a symphony concert is 110 decibels.
Users should familiarize themselves with the safety features and safe listening levels of their devices. Smartphone apps can be used to display the noise level in decibels.

Background information from the WHO on the standard for safe listening is available for download here.

In-ear, on-ear, or over-ear—which headphones are right for you? Read more about this in our article “Headphones: Rich Sound for Our Ears.”