Lifestyle Desk – Nowadays, earbuds have become a part of our everyday life. Be it listening to music while travelling, working out or listening to songs and podcasts before sleeping, people use earbuds for hours. Many people have even developed the habit of sleeping with earbuds in. They feel that they fall asleep quickly by listening to songs or any audio in a slow voice. But if you also sleep wearing earbuds every night, then this habit can cause problems for your ears. Let us know its disadvantages.
Ears remain exposed to sound for a long time
The biggest disadvantage of wearing earbuds while sleeping is that the ears are continuously exposed to sound for several hours. Listening to music for some time during the day is not the same as wearing earbuds all night. If the sound is loud and continues to reach the ears for a long time, the risk of hearing loss may increase. Continuous listening to music, especially at loud volume, can put pressure on the sensitive structures of the ears. Its effect may not be felt in the beginning, but if such habit continues for a long time, it may cause hearing problems.
problem of whistling or ringing in the ears
If a sound like whistling, ringing, buzzing or buzzing is heard in the ears after using earbuds, then it should not be taken lightly. Exposure to loud noise can cause problems like tinnitus. If such sounds are heard repeatedly or continuously, it is better to consult an ENT specialist.
Ear pain and burning sensation
Earbuds can get pressed inside the ears if you change sides while sleeping. This may cause pain, pressure, itching or burning in the ear. Keeping earbuds in the ears for a long time can also cause problems to the skin around the ears. In-bud earphones can also reduce the normal flow of air inside the ear.
Risk of infection may increase
Keeping earbuds in your ears for a long time can retain moisture and heat. If the earbuds are not clean, the dirt and bacteria accumulated on them may come in contact with the ears. This may increase the risk of external ear infections in some people. Therefore, it is important to clean the earbuds regularly and not share them with any other person.
Quality of sleep can also be affected
Sleeping with earbuds doesn't just affect your ears. Continuous audio playing, notifications, or volume changes during playback can disrupt sleep. Even though a person may not realize it immediately, frequent sleep disturbances can lead to feeling tired and irritable the next day.
How to leave this habit?
If you have a habit of listening to something while sleeping, then instead of earbuds, you can keep the phone or speaker at some distance from the bed and play the audio at a low volume. An auto-off or sleep timer can also be used so the audio doesn't keep playing all night. The best option is to give the ears complete rest before sleeping. If you have persistent problems like whistling, pain, hearing loss, watery or pus coming from the ears after using earbuds, then instead of treating yourself, you should get yourself checked by a doctor or ENT specialist.
