I can't work without my earphones, but is it harming my ears?

India Today

16-07-2025

I enter my office, swipe in to mark attendance, and walk up to my desk. I put down my bag, take my laptop out, charger, water bottle, dear diary, and most importantly, my earphones.As soon as I sit down and get ready to work, I plug them in and 'Oops, battery low,' is what I hear. Dreadful. "How am I going to work now?" I panic. But hey, at least I didn't leave them at home. Small relief. That's what my brain processes in those few seconds.Sounds relatable? You're not alone.Headphones, earplugs, earphones, pods, whatever you call them, have become just another work essential. It's incredibly common to see people with little white (or red, in my case) devices tucked into their ears, typing away in deep focus. They tune out the chaos and tune in the concentration, which is why surviving without them in a chaotic place (like an office) is just not possible.But recently, when I read about a Delhi-based woman who suffered minor hearing loss after wearing AirPods for eight straight hours, I'll admit, I sat up straighter and took mine off. The scare is real.But coming back to the big question: is it safe to use earphones for long hours, and does it really boost productivity?Does music lead to productivity?advertisementScience says yes, but with terms and conditions applied.The genre of music, whether it's instrumental or not, the nature of the work you are doing, and how your individual brain processes sound, all play a role. Studies have shown that music can be helpful, but only if these conditions match up. Wondering how? I chose to leave it to experts to explain it further.
'Music can help people focus, especially when the surrounding environment is distracting or noisy. I know patients who say they simply can't concentrate unless there's something playing in the background, it sort of gives the mind a buffer,' Dr. Umesh T, clinical director and senior consultant neurology, CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, tells India Today.However, he further notes that this tends to work better with instrumental or ambient music - something that doesn't grab too much attention. If it's a song with lyrics, and you are doing work that involves reading or writing, it can interfere. So, it really depends on the task and also on how a person's brain processes sound.And everyone has a different liking for sound. Some listen to instrumental music, while some prefer brown noise. (No, not every noise is chaos). There are anecdotal reports of how it helps several people improve their focus.For the uninitiated, brown noise is steady, low-pitched, and surprisingly calming. Unlike music, it doesn't carry melody or emotion, which makes it easier for your brain to anchor without distraction.'People with attention difficulties or low tolerance to background noise often find that brown noise helps them stay focused,' says Dr. Umesh. 'Music works better for repetitive tasks. For deep focus, brown noise usually keeps the brain from getting overstimulated.'Therefore, brown noise could be helpful. But if it turns into the brain's only cue to concentrate, it is not good news.If you always listen to something while working, your mind begins to expect that cue - sound for focus. After a while, silence may feel strange or even make it harder to concentrate, according to the neurologist.However, that doesn't mean music or background noise is bad. But some mix helps.Try doing some tasks without it. Give your brain a chance to focus just by itself, without an intervention. That balance is what keeps attention flexible.advertisementEnough has been said about music and productivity. What often gets overlooked is our relationship with the device itself.Prolonged use can be damaging? Common knowledge, right? But we still do it (guilty). And the consequences go beyond just hearing loss.The side effects no one talks aboutPlugging into your earphones and listening to a podcast or music can help with concentration in some cases, but doing it for longer hours isn't as harmless as it seems.That stylish new pod might not fit your ear canal properly and a bad fit can lead to discomfort, irritation, and in some cases, even micro-injuries.Now let's talk about that wax (gross, but important).While our ears are self-cleaning marvels, there are chances of mild impairment and infection. 'Wax tends to move outward and fall off on its own when we talk or eat. When you frequently use earbuds, not only do you push the wax inward, but you also scrape off the wax along the outer walls of the ear canal. This leads to dryness, which increases irritation and the likelihood of infections or mild hearing loss,' Dr Manjunath Mk, senior consultant - ENT surgeon, Gleneagles BGS Hospital, Kengeri, Bengaluru, tells India Today.advertisementAnd did you know that overusing earbuds can make your ears too sensitive to real-world noise? At least, I didn't."When environmental sounds are constantly suppressed, by relying solely on earbuds or earplugs, the brain becomes less accustomed to processing natural sound stimuli," explains Dr Manjunath. Over time, this can result in auditory hypersensitivity, making individuals more irritable or less tolerant of everyday environmental sounds .So...how long is too long?Experts say that there is no universal rule, but there is a trick up their sleeve that can be implemented. It is called the '60/60 rule' - listen at no more than 60 per cent volume for no more than 60 minutes at a stretch.Interestingly, like having diet tips, there are earbud etiquette too:Take 5-10 minute breaks every 30–60 minutes for the eardrums to take a breather.Keep your earbuds clean and hygienic.Don't push them too deep.Take listening breaks.Lower the volume.Try working in silence once in a while.All these rules, etiquettes, and mindful usage tips might sound like common sense, but clearly, they're not common practice. Not yet, at least.Many know that long hours with earbuds jammed in aren't exactly a friend to ear health. But what often slips under the radar is how constant audio input, without intention or pause, could also be quietly chipping away at our ability to focus.- EndsTrending Reel