Do Over-Ear Headphones Cause Earwax | A Quick Guide In 2022
Earwax is a natural secretion of the ear. Its functions are to help protect and lubricate the ear canal. While over-the-ear headphones may be comfortable and provide good sound quality, there is some concern that they may cause an increase in earwax production.
What are over-ear headphones and how do they work?
Over-the-ear headphones rest on top of or around the ear and provide good sound quality. Since their oversized cushions enclose the ear, they provide excellent sound insulation. They are generally considered to be the most comfortable type of earphone available today.
The over-ear headphone also offers better noise isolation than any other type of headphone either in the heart or over-the-ear type. This is the reason why many people prefer these headphones over other types.
Do over-ear headphones cause earwax?
Over-ear headphones sometimes known as circumaural headphones due to their large size and sealing effect around your ears–can cause earwax buildup. But if you clean your ears properly and still notice this buildup, it might be due to excessive earwax production rather than headphones alone. If the headphones aren’t cleaned regularly (such as after every use), debris such as dust and earwax can accumulate inside of them, leading to blockages.
Genetics also contributes to earwax buildup, so while your headphones might cause your earwax production to increase slightly, it’s probably due to your natural predisposition toward earwax buildup.
Types of headphones also have different effects. For example, if you use the over-the-ear headphone then the chance of earwax build-up is less than any other type of headphones since they sit away from the ear and this is the reason why many people prefer these headphones over other types.
How can you tell if you have an earwax build-up?
There are some easy signs that you can look for to see if earwax is building up in your over-ear headphones. If you notice a decreased volume when wearing your headphones or an increase in static, it’s probably due to debris like dust and wax clogging the sound holes in the earpieces.
If you have to turn your music up louder to hear the sound clearly, you might be dealing with a blockage. If you can see waxy debris on your earpiece this can be due to the earwax build-up.
It’s important to realize that the issue isn’t with the headphone per say, but with the earwax build-up. So it’s important to properly clean your headphones regularly in addition to keeping your ears clean.
Tips of prevent earwax build-up from headphones:
While over-the-ear headphones probably won’t cause excessive earwax production, there are some things you can do to help minimize your risk of earwax buildup. If you want to try and prevent earwax from building up in your headphones, we suggest:
- Being careful when inserting the headphone into the ear canal, in order to avoid pushing earwax inwards towards your eardrum
- Clean your headphones after every use so that the dust and debris that don’t enter your ear and cause issues.
- Use over-ear headphones which don’t cause many problems with ear wax build-up.
- Also, use a dry towel to wipe out the earwax from around your ears, and try not to insert anything in your ear.
- See the family doctor for better treatment and diagnosis
FAQ’S:
Q) Can over-the-ear headphones cause an increase in earwax?
Q) What are some signs you might have an earwax build-up?
Final Thought:s
Do over-ear headphones cause earwax? While the answer is yes, this type of headphone contributes less toward the earwax. Although headphone alone is not responsible for earwax buildup some other factors are also involved. If you want to try and prevent earwax from building up in your headphones, we suggest: cleaning your headphones after every use, using over-the-ear headphones since they maintain good airflow. We have also mentioned some tips that should be helpful.
