Earphones come in various sizes, designs and forms and are commonly found as accessories in mobile and smartphones. They are usually plugged into or places over the ears to amplify sounds and stop distractions from background noises. However, earphones can cause irreparable damage to the ears if misused. The smaller types- in-ear canal buds- pose more threats because unlike the larger full-size headphones that rest against the outside of the ears because the ears recognise them as foreign objects. If not used sensibly, here are some of the risks associated with using earphones:
1. Deafness: Exposing the ear to high decibels of sound daily can weaken the ear drum and other sensitive tissues of the inner ear. This can happen because of the way the earphones are designed to direct sound straight into the ear for maximum listening pleasure. This will cause the ear to be exposed to direct sound and over long periods of time, this may cause deafness.
2. Accidents: With earphones in the ear blocking out all forms of background noise, it is relatively for accidents to occur as a result of lack of concentration. This is why it has been advised to stop using earphones while walking on the road or performing tasks that require maximum concentration so as to avoid accidents resulting from inadequate attention.
3. Ear infections: Like earlier noted, in-canal earbuds are recognised as foreign objects by the ears, which in turn causes the ears to produce more earwax to build up in the ears; this can lead to blockage and other irritations. Also, most people are not aware that sharing earphones with others can cause ear infections and diseases. The basic rule is that any object that goes into any of your body orifices should not be shared, and this includes earphones. Wounds or cuts in the outer ear may carry germs which are not easily noticeable and settle on the surface of the earphones and get transferred from one person to another.