Are Noise-Canceling Headphones Safe?

Wide shot of headphones with soundwaves.
Wide shot of headphones with soundwaves.

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We break down how noise cancellation works and whether are there any health complications.

For many of us, a pair of good quality, noise-canceling headphones is a welcome respite in a world that is noisier than ever. Sometimes, it feels so great to block out all the unnecessary disruptions of daily life. This makes it tempting just to keep them on all the time.

But as lovely as that thought is, it’s no secret that many have reported adverse effects associated with prolonged use of noise-canceling headphones. Often, these experiences lead to questions of whether noise-canceling is safe and how much usage time is too much.

Not to worry, we’ve got all the nitty-gritty details laid out so that you can be better informed before buying your own.

How Do Noise-Canceling Headphones Work?

Headphones use one of two types of noise cancellation – passive noise cancellation (PNC) or active noise cancellation (ANC). PNC headphones create a physical seal over the ear so that you hear less background noise. On the other hand, ANC electronically produces an opposing frequency that cancels out ambient noise altogether.

To understand how this all works, let’s get into the mechanics of noise cancellation.

Passive noise cancellation

Passive noise cancellation is the most common form of noise cancellation that most headphones in the market employ.

PNC headphones, particularly the over-ear or circumaural types, work by physically soundproofing the ears using specific materials. The ear cups of PNC headphones create an airtight seal over the ear, preventing sound from leaking out or coming in, and high-density material like memory foam further dampens unwanted noise.

PNC headphones are more effective against temporary high-frequency sounds, such as sirens, barking dogs, screaming kids, honking cars, etc. That said, it’s more accurate to call PNC headphones as “noise-isolating” headphones because they only physically block out external noise without actually ‘canceling’ them.
Additionally, since the technicalities of passive noise cancellation only depend on the physical seals of the headphones, you can add noise isolation to your headphones or earphones yourself without shelling out too much cash.

Active noise cancellation

Active noise cancellation (ANC) uses a sophisticated system that electronically manipulates external sound to cancel it out.

ANC begins with a miniature microphone sampling the ambient noise in your surroundings. If you’re sitting in a crowded coffee shop, for example, the microphone will pick up the sound waves generated by the constant drone of the busy cafe. These soundwaves are basically pressure waves that travel through the air at a specific frequency.

The microphone then takes the sampled audio and feeds it into the battery-powered noise-canceling system in the headphones. The system then inverts it, producing a signal that is the exact opposite of the original. And finally, the headphone speakers plays back this opposite signal.

Here’s where it gets a bit more technical. When two frequencies or signals are in complete opposition to each other, that means they are in antiphase. And when two signals in antiphase collide, destructive interference occurs.

Illustration of the interference of two waves (From:Wikimedia Commons).
Illustration of the interference of two waves (From: Wikimedia Commons).

Destructive interference occurs when the highest point of one frequency meets the lowest point of its opposing frequency (seen in the left image), thereby canceling them both out. This contrasts with what we see in the rightmost image (constructive interference) wherein the two frequencies are identical, resulting in a more amplified signal.

In sum, ANC headphones produce opposing frequencies that cancel out the frequencies of the ambient noise around you, resulting in silence.

All these additional mechanisms and advanced technology make ANC headphones stand out when it comes to noise reduction as compared to Passive Noise Cancelling headphones.

However, its effectiveness can sometimes base on how well its internal mechanisms were made and integrated into the headphones. In turn, this also affects the overall costs. This is especially noticeable when you compare ANC headphones under $100 and those under $300.

So, Is Noise-Canceling Safe?

The short answer is, yes. Noise-canceling headphones, on their own, are safe.

In fact, the ANC technology was actually invented mainly for the hearing protection of pilots against the loud sounds of the plane engine. This is why noise-canceling headphones can be beneficial in helping prevent hearing loss and alleviating noise-related stress.

As previously mentioned, noise-canceling headphones work by removing continuous low-frequency background noises like the hum of machinery or an airplane engine’s rumble. With this noise significantly reduced, the wearer experiences clearer sound and no longer feels the need to raise the headphones’ volume to ear-damaging levels.

This is particularly important for people with sensitive hearing, and children who are more prone to hearing damage when continually exposed to noise. That’s why there are noise cancelling headphones for kids with additional hearing protection, like volume limiters. However, some higher-end ANC headphones can also cancel out even middle frequencies like voices, but mid-range ANC headphones are more effective in reducing low-frequency sounds.

Noise-canceling headphones can also help with noise-related stress. This type of stress doesn’t just disrupt our concentration but can also cause high blood pressure, ulcers, and migraines. Having a good pair of noise-canceling headphones helps minimize our exposure to bothersome background noise and helps keep our stress levels in check.

Safety Concerns Involving Noise-Canceling Headphones

Man wearing headphones on a city sidewalk (From:Unsplash).
Man wearing headphones on a city sidewalk (From: Unsplash).

Despite the benefits of noise-canceling headphones established, a simple Google search will tell you that there have been several safety-related user complaints regarding the said devices, no matter if they’re budget-friendly or premium.

Let’s talk about some of the most common safety concerns involving noise-canceling headphones.

Pressure on the ears

Some of the most common complaints surrounding noise-canceling headphones involve jaw pain, headaches, dizziness, and ear pressure. The ear pressure, in particular, is likened to the same kind of ear pressure one feels on an ascending airplane. To understand this better, it’s essential to know how barometric pressure changes affect us.

When we take off in a plane, the ear pressure we feel occurs because of air density differences inside and outside your ears. When air density is higher inside your ears, the inner ear vibrates less, which means you perceive low-frequency sounds less.

We know that ANC headphones cancel out low-frequency sounds, so sometimes, using them here on solid ground can trigger this effect. Even when you’re only using the noise cancelling headphones for gaming at home, the brain sometimes thinks that there’s been a pressure change, resulting in headaches and the feeling of having pressure in the ears.

Some people adapt well to ANC headphones and don’t experience any symptoms at all. Others can use them without incident for only a few hours a day before they feel the need to take them off. Unfortunately, there is no “cure” for this. And people who struggle with the symptoms get no choice but to trade their ANC headphones for PNC ones instead.

This isn’t unknown to manufacturers though. That’s why some noise cancelling headphones made primarily for travel have pressure-relief technology, to distribute the air pressure evenly over the ears. It results in a safer listening experience and even better sound quality.

If you only want to block out noises without the audio aspect, try getting ear plugs. Check our guide on risks and benefits of wearing ear plugs.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a persisting ringing or buzzing sound in the ears that becomes even more pronounced with the lack of any external background noise. It’s a common disorder that can affect people of all ages and can be triggered by anything that damages or interferes with your ears’ sensitive internal structures.

Many people have reported experiencing tinnitus due to using ANC headphones, however, there is no scientific correlation between tinnitus and ANC headphones. A plausible theory for the perception of tinnitus is likely due to the heightened noise reduction by ANC headphones.

For example, if you use noise cancelling headphones to study in a hall or a library, ambient noise can become close to zero and we become hyper-aware of the ringing sounds in our ears.

On the contrary, ANC headphones are recommended for tinnitus sufferers, as well as for the prevention of tinnitus. This is because the effective ambient noise cancellation feature reduces the need for wearers to increase the volume of their headphones when in noisy environments, thus preventing or lessening any future tinnitus episodes.

Close up of the Calmer in-ear device (From:Flareaudio.com).
Close up of the Calmer in-ear device (From:Flareaudio.com).
Those living with noise-related stress, tinnitus, or generally sensitive hearing could benefit significantly from a product called Calmer. Designed by Flare Audio, Calmer is a non-electrical, silicone device placed in the ear. It works by reducing and dampening the ear-jarring distortion that mid-frequency sounds often have.

Using noise-canceling headphones outdoors

Not having music to motivate you through a workout, or your favorite podcast to accompany you on an errand sounds inconceivable. But it’s this singular act of putting on a pair of noise-canceling headphones while we’re out and about which places millions of people at risk every year.

For many of us, it’s second nature to don a pair of headphones before we head out. But in doing so, we’re hampering one of the most important senses we need to recognize danger. We close ourselves off from mentally registering things like car horns, fire alarms, and other important alerts. This increases our chances of getting into accidents.

If you’re driving or running along an area with lots of traffic, it’s advisable to avoid using noise cancellation altogether.

Such activities require the attentiveness of all our senses and will often need a lightning-fast response from us if something goes wrong.

US states like Colorado, Maryland, Louisiana, and Rhode Island in particular, have even outrightly banned the use of any type of headphones while driving. But even if it’s legal in other states, it is still highly discouraged.

To lessen the occurrence of distraction-related accidents, tech companies like Audio Analytic created ai3™, a sound recognition software designed to be embedded into audio devices, like headphones, earphones, and speakers. This allows users to remain alert for certain sounds (car horns, sirens, alarms) even while wearing ANC headphones, thus allowing them to react accordingly.

We reached out to Audio Analytic to ask more about which products feature their software. According to Marketing VP Neil Cooper, there are currently no products in the market that are outfitted with their tech; however, they do expect to see devices soon.

Conclusion

Yes, we all love our games, our music, and our quiet time. But let it not be at our hearing’s expense. Our ears are fragile, and we only get one pair of these babies in a lifetime. It’s only up to us to treat them well. Hopefully, this in-depth guide, hasn’t only helped you understand how to get the most out of your headphones. But also how to take care of your ears.

Of course, not all noise canceling headphones work as well as the others. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best noise cancelling headphones for every budget and purpose. Feel free to check it out!

Got any questions, tips, or suggestions? We’d love to hear anything you’d like to share on the topic, so feel free to leave a comment below.

💬 Conversation: 10 comments

    1. I have been suffering from dizziness and nausea after using my boss headphones and suspect they could be the problem. I have gone to a couple of hospitals with no cure. When the dizziness stoppedI noted I was not using them

  1. Is it safe to listen to music on the lowest setting on a set of noise canceling headphones? I listen to music on the lowest possible setting on my Bose headphones and I feel like I can hear it really well, although I am nervous this could cause additional hearing loss.

  2. Great info but can we get some idea how much time is too much specially for young kids to use the ANC Headphones on daily routine?
    We as parents are concerned for our kids hearing as they loved the Headphones and using them on prolonged bases for gaming, chatting with friends and music. Thanks 😊

  3. Isn’t it just cheating your ears? You get external sound singal, headphones generates another opposite sound signal and both signals go into the ear? ok you ear doesn’t recognise it but it just gets 2x times 60dB signals that at prolonged times causes the same or even more harm than receiving just on 60dB signal ?

      1. No, the two audio waves cancel out before they reach your ear. The active noise canceling is a physical phenomenon between two audio waves and has nothing to do with your ear or your brain. If you want a visualization, you should look up the double slit experiment and try it at home. In this experiment, light waves cancel each other out to produce regions without light. It is not your eye being tricked into thinking that there is no light. There is literally no light there because the light waves destructively interfere. Another example is “beating” in audio processing. If you download the audio files on the Wikipedia page and view them using a spectrogram, you can see that the decibel level goes down in the regions of destructive interference. Hence, this is a purely physical phenomenon that happens outside of your brain and ears. I’ve I clouded helpful links below.

        wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-slit_experiment
        wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_(acoustics)
        dcode.fr/spectral-analysis

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