Do Headphones Cause Ear Infections? 3 Superb Explanation About This Issue That You Should Know

Do headphones cause ear infections? Headphones are placed directly in the ear canal, which can cause earwax to build up in the canal, leading to an ear infection. But is it true? Read this article until end to know more about this issue. In this blog, we also have an article about sanzhiying wireless wired bluetooth headphone review that you might want to read about it.

Do Headphones Cause Ear Infections

Yes, when used inappropriately, headphones may cause ear infections. However, you do not have to immediately discard your headphones. Indeed, a study of 136 customer service representatives discovered only four chronic middle ear infections and no external ear canal infections caused by headphones. That is fewer than 3% of persons who work with headsets.

Additionally, this research discovered that customer service representatives were equally as likely to have impacted wax and more than six times as likely to have hearing loss as they were to have an ear infection.

While the numbers in the previous research were modest, another study examining bacterial burdens in the ears discovered that regular usage of headphones promotes bacterial development.

What Factors Contribute to Ear Infections?

When we insert objects into our ears (such as earphones), we disrupt the biological processes that protect them. As a consequence, we sometimes get ear infections. What is truly occurring is as follows:

Bacteria + humidity

The inside of your ears are dark and wet, two characteristics that germs like.

This is because darkness shields them from the sun’s germ-killing UV rays, while dampness makes them a literal breeding environment for bacteria. This combination provides an atmosphere conducive to the rapid spread of dangerous germs.

Regrettably, using headphones or earbuds might exacerbate these two issues.

As previously stated, research have shown a clear correlation between incorrect earphone use and bacterial development. This occurs as a consequence of altered moisture circulation in the ears and the entrance of microorganisms from the outside through earphones.

Continuous use of earbuds (or very sealed headphones) seals the ear canal off from the outside world. As a consequence, fluid that should evaporate accumulates in the ears rather than evaporating.

Bacteria that enter the ear canal through your earbuds may find this environment bearable, resulting in infection.

Not all germs are capable of causing ear infections. Healthy ears are colonized by helpful bacteria, and some of these bacteria even limit the development of pathogenic germs! However, prolonged exposure to or proliferation of pathogenic bacteria may shift the balance and eliminate beneficial bacteria.

Accumulation of earwax

Earwax is a generally healthy substance in and of itself. It guards your ear canal from germs, viruses, dust, and other foreign particles. The wax slowly oozes past your ears, coating everything.

However, when earwax is continuously forced back into the ear canal, a condition known as ear impaction, it becomes a deadly cause of infection. The repetitive insertion of earphones or IEMs is a typical cause of this sort of pressing.

Earwax that has been pushed back causes a “dam” in the ear canal. This dam weakens the protective covering that the remainder of your ear receives, leaving it susceptible to infection. Additionally, it traps moisture and old wax in your eardrum, resulting in illness. If this describes you, continue reading to learn how to properly clean your ears.

How to Avoid Ear Infections

By adopting a few common-sense procedures, we may greatly minimize our risk of developing an illness. The following principles are the equivalents of masking and handwashing in the realm of headphones.

Always keep your headphones and earbuds clean.

Cleaning and sanitizing headphones and earbuds may assist in preventing the spread of the most serious illnesses. According to experts, this should be done regularly or anytime earwax buildup is visible in the grooves of your earphones.

Clean your ears

Mom always told you to clean behind your ears, but have you ever received an instruction on how to properly clean within your ears? While your ears are normally self-cleaning, cleaning becomes required if you have an earwax backlog. The backed-up wax will begin to collect germs and will function as a reservoir for moisture.

Related Articles For You!