Can Bone Conduction Headphones Damage Hearing

Headphones cause hearing damage, which is frequently heard due to the severity headphones bring to ears. But, Are bone conduction headphones bad for your ears? The Aftershokz bone conduction headphones have been in my ears for a long time, and now I am concerned about hearing loss. Can Bone Conduction Headphones Damage Hearing? 

However, people have some safety concerns regarding bone conduction headphones. People aren’t fully satisfied that they are 100 percent safe and would not cause hearing loss. Hence, we came up with this detailed article to conquer your doubts and worries over the hearing concerns that come with bone conduction headphones.

Can Bone Conduction Headphones Damage Your Hearing?

In hindsight, the manufacturers and the promoters of the bone conduction headphones advertise the device as if it’s a blessing from God to reduce or cure the risks of headphones-related hearing loss and wearing headphones outdoors. So, are bone conduction headphones good? Well, they are in many ways, but you cannot avoid the damage when it comes to severe and continuous use.

However, there are always two sides to the coin. Despite the history of this new technology being used for hearing aids, this doesn’t mean that the bone conduction headphones are entirely safe or won’t cause any hearing loss, as claimed by their manufacturers. 

You can damage your ears with headphones, just like with loud noises. If you do not give your cochlea hair cells time to recover, the sounds from your headphones will eventually bend them too much or too severely, causing permanent damage.

The design is safe, and the open-ear design allows the users to be more aware of their surroundings, making them less vulnerable to accidents, as the users can sense or hear any warnings or dangers in their surroundings.

However, bone conduction headphones can cause hearing loss if misused. Continuous exposure to loud sounds can cause problems for their ears, and since the bone conduction headphones send the sound to the cochlea, there are chances of hearing loss.

I compared bone conduction headphones vs earbuds concerning ear fatigue, infection, and conductive hearing loss, and I found earbuds to be more harmful than the former.  

What can go wrong with open-ear headphones?

When talking about the bone conduction headphones pros and cons, undoubtedly, these headsets are much on the good side, but there are certain things you can not avoid. Like, such as headaches, localization errors, and Skin irritation.

Headaches

Since the bone conduction headphones are designed in a manner that they usually end up resting on your temples. Due to this, some users have reported experiencing discomfort and headaches.

Skin Irritation

Any gadget worn or used for a long time can or will have some side effects, and bone conduction headphones are no different. Since they rest on the skin above your ears, which causes pressure, you can experience skin irritation or itchiness.

Vertigo 

One of the primary Bone Conduction Headphones Side Effects is vertigo. Some people experience vertigo due to problems with their balance in the inner ear, and bone conduction headphones directly impact the cochlea. The continuous use of the earphones will have a huge impact on the ears and can lead to severe circumstances. 

Do bone conduction headphones protect hearing?

Bone conduction earphones transmit sound vibrations through the cheekbones directly to the eardrum and have relatively little harm to the eardrum compared to ordinary earphones. 

Choosing the right bone conduction headset will help protect your ears from direct impact on the eardrums, ear fatigue, and tinnitus.

I always prefer choosing one of the best bone conduction headphones on the market, like AfterShoks Aeropex, Shokz Xtrainerz, and SwimAudios by Tayogo Bone Conduction Headphones. 

FAQs

What Causes Tinnitus?

The most common cause of tinnitus is listening to loud music over a significant period, which can cause severe damage to your ears. There are many ways of developing tinnitus; for instance, if you stand next to a sound system in an event or a concert without any ear protection equipment, your chances of developing tinnitus are pretty high.

Can I Use Bone Conduction Headphones If I Have Tinnitus?

It depends on the kind of tinnitus that you have developed. However, in most cases, people with tinnitus are permitted to use bone conduction headphones, subject to how they use them. Loud music or using headphones for too long can damage your ears further.

Who Should Wear Bone Conduction Headphones?

The general rule is that bone conduction headphones are more suited to people with hearing loss, but this doesn’t mean that people with no disability aren’t recommended to use this technology. Anyone and everyone can use this technology.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that if you intend to keep your ears safe and unharmed, avoid listening to loud music for long periods, whether using bone conduction headphones or traditional ones.

Everyone has different choices and experiences; some people love bone conduction headphones, and some are ready to fight over the traditional ones. You should know what suits you more and ensure your ears are safe.