Headphones have marked their presence in the household as well as professional space. The use of headphones has exponentially grown over the past few years with the advent of new and modern headphones. With this extensive use of headphones, it is a fact that Headphones Hurt Ear Cartilage.
Headphones are designed to be worn on the ear, over the ears. Furthermore, the headset’s band lies on the head. Earphones are made to be fitted in the ears. When the headphones are worn for long hours of continuous use, ears may get hurt by headphones.
Headphones come in different categories to meet the demands of audiophiles, be they bass headphones, gaming headphones, headphones for athletes, etc. Many reasons can cause ear hurt when using headphones. In this article, I will elaborate on the reasons and the preventive measures you can follow to resolve this problem.
Headphones Hurt Ear Cartilage
Headphones have become an inseparable gadget in my daily life. I go for headphones if I need to listen to something privately or want to relax by listening to my favorite music.
It is a dream of audiophiles to use headphones without getting their ears harmed by them. Headphones are designed to bring ease into your life, but because of specific reasons, they hurt your ears, or you may find them uncomfortable to wear.
Headphones Are Too Tight
Headphones are designed in a standard size to be adjustable for every user. A tight headphone may not only hurt your ears but can also give you a headache. A strong clamping force (Force that holds your headphone on the head) can be a reason for tight headphones.
The users of on-ear and over-ear headphones may face this problem. Tight headphones lead to discomfort and extreme headache due to the tension it creates on your head. Studies have shown that tight headphones trigger migraine.
Overuse of Headphones
It is impossible not to use headphones at all. They have become a staple in your life. You can’t imagine how much headphones can hurt your ears if worn and used for a prolonged period. Overuse of headphones can put pressure on the ears and the head. It can cause ear cartilage to get hurt.
Poor fit
Headphones must have a good fit, and you should wear them properly to bring out the best use. A poorly fitted headphone results in discomfort. It can be due to:-
- Small size headphones
- Size of the ear cups or ear cushions
- Non Adjustable headbands
- Inappropriate clamping force
Wearing Glasses with Headphones
Are you a person who loves to wear headphones but has to wear glasses at the same time?
You are in a terrible situation with using both headphones and glasses simultaneously. Glasses and headphones can crush your ears.
Loud Volume on Headphones
Loud volume creates that thrilling and exciting bass in music that every audiophile demands; this gives the music a harmonious melody. Listening to loud volume can cause more vibrations to travel through your ears. These vibrations pressure your ears and cause earache, soreness, and irritation.
Warning: Loud volume can cause ringing in your ears which is an early symptom of tinnitus. (Tinnitus is a condition in which you hear ringing or buzzing noises even when actual sound is present).
Damaged Ear Cushions of Headphones
Ear cushions of headphones are placed on the ears or over the ears; they should be soft in their material. Moreover, with the continuous and prolonged use of headphones, they flatten and stretch. It causes the ear cushions to crack. The damaged ear cushions are a big problem to deal with.
How do I Stop my ears from Hurting when Wearing Headphones?
Headphones have undeniable uses. So, I need to use them. I am a staunch user of headphones and have suffered from ear problems. I have taken specific preventive measures to make myself comfortable while using headphones.
Limit your Headphone Use
It is said that “excess of everything is bad.” The same goes for using headphones. This gadget is designed to provide private listening time, but if you overuse it, it will cause problems. First of all, limit your headphone use to prevent any further damage.
My tip: Use your headphones for 60 minutes a day and then take a break for a good few minutes to allow your ears to rest and recover.
Limit Volume Level
It is hazardous to listen to loud volumes for long hours. I suggest you listen to a 60% volume level. Keeping the volume low can prevent you from listening fatigue and many other ear issues if you are a bass lover. It would help if you used an equalizer on your device to turn on the bass at low volumes.
Choose Noise Canceling Headphones
Headphones have now been designed with this new technology of noise cancelation. If you are using headphones in noisy environments, these headphones are way better for you than regular headphones. You don’t have to hear mixed sounds so that you can prevent your ears from any damage.
Information: Noise-canceling headphones cut off all the unwanted outside noise, and you hear only that noise coming from headphones.
Choose Over-Ear Headphones over Earbuds/Earphones
Over-ear headphones are more comfortable to wear, and they provide more breathability. In addition, they don’t heat the ears. Earbuds fit tightly into the ears and can directly affect the ears. I advise you to choose over-ear headphones for comfortable listening.
Find the Right Fit for Headphones
No matter for what purpose you are using headphones. After all, if you are using headphones, you should be cautious about the right fit of the headphones. The right fit will enhance your headphones experience.
- Select headphones with thick ear cups.
- Ensure a standard clamping force.
- Choose earbuds that provide a variety of ear tips.
Upgrade Headphone Padding
Headphone padding is significant in making and breaking your headphone usage experience. Leather, velour, foam, and pleather are used for headphone padding nowadays.
Leather and pleather ear cushions are harder than foam and velour ones.
I prefer to avoid shallow padding of headphones and try to upgrade them whenever I find their padding breaking.
My tip: I use headphones that are made with velour ear cushions. These headphones provide enough breathability to my ears.
Life-Saving Hacks While Using Headphones
If you can’t be able to reduce your headphone use, you should be aware of how to use headphones correctly. I have formulated some hacks in this regard. These hacks are tried and tested, and they can solve your issue.
- Keep your headphones clean
- Use contact lenses while using headphones
- Avoid sharing your headphones
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I take a break from headphones?
It is admitted that overuse of headphones is damaging to the ears. You should follow the rule 60/60. Listen to headphones on 60% volume for 60 minutes a day and take a break for a few minutes.
You should at least take a break of 10-30 minutes while using headphones to let your ears rest and recover from extensive listening.
How much headphones use is too much?
60 DB of sound is permitted while using headphones. If you are listening to 85 DB sound levels, you are deliberately damaging your ears. It is said that exposure to sound levels of 105 to 110 DB damage your ears in 5 minutes. I suggest you use headphones for a limited time and on limited sound levels.
What are the safest headphones for your ears?
Headphones are available in different varieties that have proved safer for your ears. These headphones provide the proper fitting and are comfortable to use.
- Bose 700
- SONY MDR7506
- Sennheiser HD 800 S
- Audio Technica ATHM50XBT
Summing Up | Headphones Hurt Ear Cartilage
It isn’t easy to find comfortable headphones, but with the proper technique and approach, you can use them to make them workable for you in the most comfortable way. In this article, I have illustrated all the reasons for ear hurt by headphones and the preventive measures you can take to lessen the factors that make headphones uncomfortable to wear and use. I hope this guide will help you enjoy your listening better than before.
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