Rajasthan An MBBS medical student recently shared a post on social media, in which she claimed that her JBL Tune Beam 2 wireless earbuds suddenly burst while using them. This incident caused swelling of his right eardrum (tympanic membrane). The student told that the earbuds were gifted to her by her sister about a month ago. She was listening to music when suddenly something like a loud noise or sensation occurred and her ears got hurt.
She also put a photo of the doctor’s prescription in her post, in which the ENT specialist (Ear-Nose-Throat doctor) had mentioned symptoms like swelling in the right ear, dizziness and vomiting. The doctor prescribed medicines and treated the condition. This post quickly went viral and a lot of discussion started among people on the internet about the safety of wireless earbuds. Many users expressed their concerns, some shared their similar experiences, while others asked whether such gadgets are really dangerous.
Company JBL’s response
JBL company immediately responded to this matter. He said in a public statement, ‘Hello, thanks for informing about the situation. We have seen your post and have shared this information with our team in India, so that they can contact you directly. The company promised to investigate the matter, but did not give any direct response to the allegation that the earbuds “explode”. They simply left saying that they were taking the matter seriously.
Understand the whole thing from health point of view
If we look at this incident keeping health in mind, it is a matter of concern, but do not consider it completely normal. Wireless earbuds (like Bluetooth ones) have small batteries. If the battery is damaged, overheated, or has a manufacturing defect, in very rare cases problems such as overheating, swelling, or bursting may occur. Even in India, a few years ago, a case of death of a young man came to light in Rajasthan, when his Bluetooth headphones exploded while charging. Such cases are very rare, but they can happen. The biggest danger that occurs on a daily basis is hearing loud noises. Earbuds fit directly inside the ear, so the sound reaches more loudly and directly to the delicate cells of the ear. If you keep listening for hours at 80-90% volume, gradually the small hair cells of the ear get damaged. This may cause permanent hearing problems, ringing noise in the ears (tinnitus) or pain in the ears. Additionally, earbuds trap moisture and heat inside the ear, increasing the risk of ear infections (bacterial or fungal). If there is a lot of earwax, the earbuds can push it inside, causing blockage. The radiation (non-ionizing) emitted by Bluetooth is very low and generally considered safe, but prolonged use may cause minor discomfort.
So should we use earbuds or not?
Experts say yes, it can be used, but very carefully. It is not necessary to stop them completely, because nowadays most people use them and in most cases there is no major problem. But if you give priority to health, then definitely follow these rules:
1. Keep the volume low: Never listen at more than 60% volume. Even if there is noise around, do not increase the volume. Remember the 60/60 rule – don’t listen for more than 60 minutes at 60% volume.
2. Limit time: Do not use for more than 1-2 hours continuously. Take breaks in between, give rest to the ears.
3. Take care of cleanliness: Clean the earbuds daily. If there is no earwax, get it cleaned by a doctor. Do not share with another person, as the infection may spread.
4. Choose good quality: Don’t buy cheap or fake earbuds. Take only branded and certified products which have overheating protection. Do not use while charging.
5. If there is any problem in the ear, stop immediately: If there is pain, swelling, dizziness or hearing loss in the ear, then immediately consult a doctor and stop the earbuds.
6. Adopt alternatives: If you are worried, use over-ear headphones. These spread the sound a bit and make it less loud or listen to it on speaker when you are alone at home.
If you also see any such symptoms or have any doubts, then definitely consult an ENT doctor. Enjoy earbuds with caution, but keep ear health top of mind. Only healthy ears can hear the joys of life clearly.
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