Is it time to hang up the noise-cancelling headphones?

Is it time to hang up the noise-cancelling headphones?

Noise-cancelling headphones have been in the news lately for perhaps doing their job a little too well.

Some audiologists are reporting seeing more adults visiting clinics for tests only to be told their hearing is fine. What they are actually experiencing is auditory processing disorder, or APD, which affects the way the brain processes sound, leading some hearing professionals to question whether the proliferation of noise-cancelling headphones is to blame.

While there’s no scientific evidence at this point that noise-cancelling headphones limit the brain’s ability to process sound, causing APD, it may be a good idea to use these headphones in moderation to give the brain the best chance to process sound effectively. After all, the brain is used to dealing with the many different sounds we hear each day and sorting the important ones from the unimportant. It may be that the maxim ‘use it or lose it’ applies here: rather like a muscle, if the brain isn’t given the chance to do its job, it starts losing the ability to do its job.

People who experience sound sensitivity, called hyperacusis, understandably reach for earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones to shield themselves from distressing sounds.

But over time, using this protection can exacerbate sound sensitivity. The brain adapts to reduced sound input by increasing its sensitivity, making even moderate noises seem louder and more intolerable – leading a person to avoid social situations, workplaces, or public spaces due to sound intolerance. And the more they associate sound with discomfort, the stronger the brain’s negative emotional response to noise becomes, leading to a cycle of distress and avoidance that impacts a person’s quality of life.

The good news is that the brain is highly adaptable and can be retrained with consistent exposure to non-threatening sounds.

If you’re worried about your hearing, or you’re particularly sensitive to noise, please come and see us at The Hearing Clinic to talk through your challenges. We’ll explain the options and help you on the way to better hearing.