Sleeping with earbuds may trigger hearing loss, say ENT specialists
ENT specialists warn that sleeping with earbuds can lead to hearing loss, earwax impaction, and infections due to prolonged sound exposure and trapped moisture. Experts recommend limiting volume and duration to prevent permanent damage.
Why it matters
With the widespread use of personal audio devices, this health warning addresses a growing public health concern regarding preventable hearing loss among younger populations.
Sleeping with earbuds in the ears regularly could expose users to prolonged sound and keep the ear canal blocked for hours, increasing the risk of hearing problems, earwax build-up and ear infections, ear, nose and throat experts have warned.
The specialists disclosed the risk is greater when earbuds are used at high volume or for several hours at a stretch, noting that sleeping with them could leave the ears exposed to sound continuously without the breaks recommended for safe listening.
They also cautioned that keeping earbuds inside the ear canal for prolonged periods could trap moisture and interfere with the normal movement of earwax, creating conditions that may encourage infection and other ear problems.
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