Seventeen-year-old Mia thought her AirPods were harmless. She wore them constantly, on the bus to school, while working out at the gym, and even while falling asleep. It was part of her lifestyle, something every friend seemed to do. But after months of almost non-stop listening, she began to notice a high-pitched ringing in her ears after long sessions. Sometimes voices sounded muffled, as though she were listening through cotton wool.
Her parents took her to an audiologist. The tests revealed early signs of noise-induced hearing changes, the kind usually seen in adults exposed to years of loud environments. “I didn’t think it was possible,” Mia admitted afterwards. “I thought only older people lost their hearing.” Mia was fortunate. With changes to her habits in form of lowering the volume, taking breaks, and switching to noise-cancelling over-ear headphones, her symptoms stabilised. But her story reflects a bigger, quieter epidemic that is slowly stealing the hearing of young and old alike.
Not radiation, but sound
Scroll through social media and you’ll find plenty of viral posts warning that AirPods can cause cancer because they emit “radiation.” The idea sounds frightening, but the science is clear. Bluetooth uses low-energy, non-ionising radiation, far weaker than a mobile phone signal, and international agencies including the World Health Organization have found no consistent link to cancer.
The real danger lies elsewhere. Earbuds deliver sound directly into the ear canal, millimetres from the eardrum. At maximum volume, AirPods can exceed 100 decibels which is equivalent to standing beside concert speakers. At that level, hearing damage can begin in as little as 15 minutes. Unlike many parts of the body, the fragile hair cells of the inner ear do not regenerate once damaged.
The numbers at home and abroad
Hearing loss is already one of Australia’s fastest-growing health concerns. Today, around one in seven adults live with some degree of hearing loss. Projections suggest that by 2060 nearly eight million Australians will be affected. Age is the strongest driver: half of Australians in their sixties have measurable hearing loss, rising to nearly 80 per cent by their eighties.
Children and young adults are far from immune. About one in every 1000 newborns in Australia is born with permanent hearing loss, and between three and six in every 1000 school-aged children are affected. A 2022 global study estimated that 1.35 billion young people worldwide are at risk from unsafe listening through devices like AirPods or at loud venues.
The problem is compounded in some communities. A University of Queensland study last year found that children from culturally and linguistically diverse families had a 58 per cent higher risk of hearing loss compared with their peers, though the risk declined the longer families had lived in Australia. Among First Nations Australians, ear disease and hearing loss remain disproportionately high, particularly in remote areas where access to specialists is limited.
These patterns are echoed overseas. In New Zealand, Māori and Pacific Islander children face higher risks of hearing problems. In Canada and the United States, researchers have documented disparities in both childhood ear disease and access to treatment among immigrant and minority groups. In India, newspapers have reported rising rates of hearing damage among young urban residents, frequently linked to heavy earbud use in noisy cities. Taken together, the evidence shows how technology habits and social disadvantage can combine to widen health gaps.
Over-ear versus in-ear
So are over-ear headphones a safer option? Not automatically, but they often help. Because they cover the ear and block outside noise, over-ear models allow listeners to hear clearly at lower volumes. Earbuds, by contrast, often encourage higher volume in noisy environments like public transport or gyms. Active noise-cancelling technology, found in both designs, can reduce background noise and encourage lower listening levels. The safest device is the one that lets you listen more quietly.
How loud is too loud?
Hearing scientists talk about the “three-decibel rule.” At 85 decibels, the level of heavy city traffic, you can listen safely for up to eight hours. Increase the level to 88 decibels and the safe time halves to four hours. At 94 decibels, it drops to just one hour. And by 100 decibels, the level earbuds can reach when cranked up,safe time shrinks to only 15 minutes.
That is why public-health experts often recommend the “60/60 rule”: listen at no more than 60 per cent of maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time, then give your ears a rest. It’s a simple way to reduce exposure, especially for young people who may not notice early signs of damage.
Protecting your ears
The good news is that hearing loss from earbuds is preventable. Phones now include features that allow users to set a maximum volume limit and receive weekly exposure alerts. Noise-cancelling headphones help reduce background interference, so you don’t feel the need to turn the sound up. For long study or work sessions, over-ear headphones are a better choice than in-ears.
In noisy environments like concerts, clubs or gyms, simple musician’s earplugs can protect hearing without dulling the experience. And if you notice ringing, muffling, or a growing need to turn up the volume, it’s time to get a hearing test. Early intervention can prevent long-term damage.
AirPods are not microwaving your brain. But they may be quietly eroding your hearing if you use them at high volume for hours every day. For teenagers like Mia, the effects can begin earlier than expected. For adults in their sixties, loud earbuds only add to the natural decline of ageing ears.
Whether young or old, the message is the same: lower the volume, limit the time, and take breaks. You only get one pair of ears, and once they’re gone, they don’t come back.
INFO BOX: Decibels vs Safe Listening Time
- 85 dB (busy traffic) → 8 hours safe
- 88 dB → 4 hours
- 91 dB → 2 hours
- 94 dB (noisy pub) → 1 hour
- 97 dB → 30 minutes
- 100 dB (maxed-out earbuds) → 15 minutes
INFO BOX: How to Listen Safely
- Set your phone’s volume cap and leave alerts switched on.
- Choose over-ear headphones for long sessions.
- Use noise-cancelling in noisy places so you don’t need to turn up the sound.
- Take regular quiet breaks to let your ears recover.
- Wear earplugs at concerts and gyms.
- See an audiologist if you notice ringing, muffled hearing or needing ever-higher volume.
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