In today's noisy world, noise-cancelling headphones have become a great way for many people to enjoy quiet music, focus on work, or block out outside noise. However, there has been controversy about whether noise-cancelling headphones can hurt your ears.

From the perspective of the working principle of noise cancelling headphones, it is mainly divided into active noise cancellation and passive noise cancellation. Passive noise cancellation is a physical way to block outside sound from entering the ears through physical means, such as the sound-isolating material of the earcups. This method is relatively simple and straightforward, as long as the material of the ear cups meets safety standards, it generally does not cause damage to the ears. Active noise cancellation, on the other hand, uses electronic technology to generate sound waves that are contrary to external noise, thereby canceling out noise. This process involves complex electronic signal processing and sound generation.

When noise-cancelling headphones are used normally, they don't hurt your ears in many cases. First of all, if it is used at a reasonable volume, that is, if it is kept within a safe hearing range, it will generally not cause damage to the ears. For example, keeping the volume at around 60% of the maximum volume will ensure a good listening experience and protect your ears. Secondly, regular brand noise-canceling headphones follow strict acoustic and safety standards in the design and production process. They will reasonably control and optimize the sound frequency, loudness, etc. of the headphone output to avoid sudden, high-intensity stimulation to the user's ears.

However, noise-canceling headphones can also cause damage to the ears if used incorrectly. A common scenario is to use it at high volume for long periods of time. Whether it's listening to music, watching videos, or just shielding out outside noise, prolonged exposure to excessively loud noises can cause overstimulation of the hair cells in the ear, which can lead to hearing loss over time. In addition, if the earbuds are worn incorrectly, such as the earbuds are not the right size, they may cause pressure on the ear canal, affect blood circulation in the ear canal, or cause sound to not travel properly, resulting in additional acoustic pressure causing damage to the ear.

So, how do you avoid noise cancelling headphones from causing damage to your ears? The first is to control the volume. It's crucial to get into the habit of adjusting the volume to the right level. You can use the volume limit function of your phone or other device to set a safe upper volume limit. Second, control the use time reasonably. Avoid wearing noise-canceling headphones continuously for long periods of time, and it is recommended to take a break every one to two hours of use to relax your ears. Thirdly, choose the right way to wear it and accessories. If you're using in-ear headphones, you want to make sure the earbuds are the right size for your ear canal, and you can try different sizes of earbuds to find the one that is most comfortable and conducive to sound delivery. For headphones, adjust the length of the headband and the position of the earcups to avoid unnecessary pressure on the ears.

In short, noise-cancelling headphones themselves do not necessarily hurt our ears, as long as we use them correctly, follow the principles of reasonable volume, appropriate wearing style and moderate use time, we can enjoy the convenience and tranquility brought by noise-cancelling headphones while protecting our ear health. In this era of continuous technological development, let us treat these electronic products more rationally, so that they can become beneficial assistants in our lives rather than health hazards.