For good reason, wireless earphones like AirPods and other manufacturers have emerged as the essential item for music and podcast fans of all ages. A smooth, hands-free audio experience is provided by wireless earphones, and they are incredibly convenient.
However, utilizing headphones to block out the outside world while going about your daily activities comes with significant risks of its own. You’re probably not getting the most enjoyment out of your audio if wearing AirPods causes pain in your ears. This essay will discuss the causes of AirPods’ potential ear damage, how to use them properly, and how to keep using this well-known gadget from endangering your health.
Causes and treatments for ear pain from AirPods
The basic, round design of AirPods and other manufacturers of wireless earphones is occasionally cushioned by silicone or foam. Although each kind of earbud varies somewhat from the others, they almost all share the same fundamental shape.
Everyone’s ears are slightly different in form, however, for a certain proportion of the population, the round shape certainly works fine. As a result, AirPods frequently cause ear pain due to:
Where they are located
How they match.
How long do you plan to wear them?
You’re putting the AirPods in your ears too deep.
The purpose of wireless earbuds is to gently seal off the opening to the ear canal from the surface of the headphones. It is not recommended to insert earbuds or earbud tips directly into the ear canal. The vibrations from your AirPods are too close to your eardrum when you wear them in this manner, which might result in earaches, migraines, and ear infections.
Quick Tip. Examine this insertion method
Pull your earlobe down a little and gently insert an earbud into your ear. Then, turn the long side down so it sits next to your earlobe. The earbud should gently seal your ear and your ear canal. Don’t put the earbud all the way into your ear canal because earbuds aren’t designed to be worn that way.
Your ears aren’t the right size for the AirPods.
The wrong size AirPods tips for your ears could be a factor in your earache. Change your AirPods’ tips to the next smaller size if they don’t fit comfortably in your ears. Small, medium and large ear tips are included with the Apple AirPods Pro model as standard accessories. Small and big ear tips are available separately online, but standard AirPods only come with medium-sized ones.
Quick Tip. Change the size of your AirPods tips or buy tips with more padding as a fix.
Try experimenting with the various AirPods tip sizes to determine which one works best for you. The Ear Tip Fit Test is a tool that is included with Apple’s wireless products. You can use it to find the appropriate size. To make your AirPods more comfortable, you can also buy extra cushioning for them. Your earbuds’ silicone or foam covers could make wearing and listen more comfortable.
You don’t take out your AirPods after using them for too long.
Aching pain may occur if you use AirPods for longer than 90 minutes at a time. Simply put, it’s not designed for things to be held within your ears for extended periods of time. Your ears may begin to hurt if you use earbuds for an extended period of time.
Quick Tip. Remove your AirPods for a while.
Keep in mind to remove your AirPods for 90 minutes at a time to rest your ears. Give your ears a light massage, take the AirPods out, and wait at least five to ten minutes before putting them back in. If you continue to experience pain, rest your ears for a longer length of time.
Substitutes for AirPods
You might need to move from AirPods to another type of headphones if there isn’t a fix that works for you. Depending on the shape of your ears and how sensitive you are to sound, certain types of headphones may be more comfortable for you.
Standard padded headphones
Headbands or wires holding padded headphones in place aren’t going anywhere. These headphones offer a similar listening experience as AirPods and maybe a more comfortable alternative if AirPods frequently cause discomfort.
Headphones with noise cancellation
Noise-canceling headphones might feel compressed within your ears, which can take some getting accustomed to. These kinds of headphones can be a painless way to shut out background noise if that’s what you’re want.
Can AirPods cause hearing damage?
It is only safe to wear earbuds, including AirPods, when you keep the volume at or below the recommended level. You’re undoubtedly listening to AirPods too loud if you frequently use them to block out background noise in public places or when traveling. Any style of headset might cause permanent hearing impairment over time.
Another side effect of excessive use of earbuds or headphones is hearing loss. Hearing loss cannot be reversed once it has started. In the US, approximately 17% of teenagers suffer some degree of hearing loss brought on by noise. Utilizing headphones frequently over time can make users less aware of how loud and how long they are listening, increasing the likelihood of difficulties.
The best ways to use AirPods
The following are some recommendations for utilizing AirPods and comparable headphones:
- Check to see if someone speaking to you from an arm’s length away can be heard. Your headphones are probably too loud if, for instance, you can’t hear a question from the person seated next to you on an airline.
- Set your headphones to no more than 80% of their maximum volume.
- Limit the amount of time you spend wearing headphones to no more than 90 minutes.
- Track your daily earphone usage duration and average loudness using a health tracker app that is installed on your device.
In Conclusion
When used properly, AirPods shouldn’t cause any discomfort to your ears. Even though it pains you to leave your pricey wireless earbuds at home, you should switch to a different option if using AirPods frequently gives you headaches or earaches. Your hearing is valuable, and it cannot be recovered once it is lost. When choosing whether headphones are right for you, take good care of and respect your ears.