Summary
Audiologists in England are investigating whether prolonged use of noise-cancelling headphones contributes to auditory processing disorder (APD), a condition where the brain struggles to interpret sounds.
Young people like Sophie, 25, experience difficulties distinguishing speech from background noise despite normal hearing tests. NHS audiology departments report rising referrals for sound-processing issues.
Experts suggest excessive headphone use may hinder brain development in filtering noise, though research is limited.
Calls for further studies grow as APD diagnosis and treatment remain scarce, particularly in adults outside educational settings.
So, every time this comes up, I have to point out that there’s more going on in your ear the hearing. I got too close to a speaker in a club about 10 years ago and messed up my hearing. I’m quite deaf in one ear and have tinnitus. That is a long way from the worst of it, though - I get unpredictable bouts off severe nausea and vertigo. That is, I will fall over and vomit with what is best described as severe sea sickness at short notice.
Take care of your ears, they are extremely delicate and include a balance organ that you definitely don’t want to fuck up.