Recent studies have warned of the potential health risks associated with sleeping with headphones; a common practice among millions of people daily, confirming that the harm could extend from ear fatigue to hearing loss, ear infections, sleep disturbances, and may even have long-term negative effects on cognitive abilities, according to a specialized medical report by (Al-Qabas).
Hearing specialists explained that wearing headphones during sleep, especially at medium to high volume levels or for extended periods, exposes the ear and brain to constant pressure at a time when the body needs rest. A Swedish study showed that teenagers who use headphones for more than three hours a day at levels exceeding 85 decibels were more susceptible to ear ringing and hearing problems, while about 10% of them were exposed to sound levels equivalent to the noise of a motorcycle or a subway train, causing some permanent hearing damage even in quiet environments.
Cleveland Clinic also warned that using in-ear headphones while sleeping could push earwax deeper into the ear canal, causing blockages and infections that might require medical intervention, in addition to potential damage to ear tissues with prolonged use. Neurologists highlighted that the continuous sound could disrupt the deep sleep stages necessary for brain cleansing, and might prevent hearing emergency alarms during the night.
