Ask an Audiologist: What Type of Headphones Are Best for Your Hearing?

May 15, 2025 - Kim Rivera Huston-Weber

Whether it's music, audiobooks or podcasts (may we recommend Houston Methodist's On Health podcast?), Americans spend almost four hours a day listening to audio content, according to Nielsen.

If you want to listen to a game or the latest romantasy book and not bother others, using headphones, earphones or earbuds are the way to go. But how can we protect our hearing while enjoying our audio content?

We spoke to Dr. Mary Williams, a doctor of audiology at Houston Methodist, about hearing preservation and safe headphone use, so you can listen without fear of injury.

"There are benefits and potential safety drawbacks to each style of headphones," says Dr. Williams. "Sound quality and overall fit can differ between styles and brands, which can affect your listening habits, which impacts your hearing. You must also consider how and when you'll use headphones, as your overall physical safety can be affected when listening to audio in public."

Headphones, earphones or earbuds: What's the difference?

If you've ever said earphones but meant earbuds, or said earphones but meant headphones, you wouldn't be alone. The words are often used interchangeably, but they are different devices. Throughout this article, we will use "headphones" to generally refer to all three types of audio equipment. Still, it's important to note that they are different products.

Headphones

Headphones have ear cups that are connected together by an adjustable headband. There are several styles of headphones: over-ear, on-ear, closed-back and bone conduction. The differences lie in the ear cups:

Over-ear headphones: These headphones are usually larger, and the ear cups fully cover the entire ear. Over-ear headphones can be closed-back or open-back.
On-ear headphones: These headphones are generally smaller, and the ear cups do not cover the entire ear. They rest on the sides of the ears above the earlobe. This type of headphone can be closed-back or open-back.
Closed-back headphones: These headphones are completely sealed around the ear cups. The sound may not be as natural, but they do offer more isolation and can block a considerable amount of outside noise. Plus, people around you likely will not hear what you're hearing. If you wear these for prolonged periods, your ears can begin to feel warm.
Bone conduction headphones: These headphones are open-ear audio devices that use vibrations through the bone to the cochlea, or the inner ear, allowing users to hear audio without blocking the ear canal. This technology is helpful for people who need to be aware of their surroundings such as runners or cyclists.

Earphones

People most often use earphones and earbuds interchangeably, but there are differences. Earphones, also called in-ear headphones or in-ear monitors, can be wired or wireless. They are inserted into the ear canal, and usually have silicone, foam or rubber ear tips at various sizes to aid in a comfortable fit. Earphones can block out more ambient sounds since the ear tips allow for a more sealed fit. People can be more exposed to decibels at higher levels when using earphones because of the proximity to the ear canal.

Earphones can also include ear fins or ear hooks to help keep them in place during activities like running. This type may cause pressure in the ear canal during prolonged usage.

Earbuds

Earbuds sit on the concha in the outer ear and enter the ear canal at a shallow depth. This type is commonly made of plastic and is usually one size with no way to adjust the fit. Earbuds allow for more ambient noise since the fit is generally less snug. Earbuds can be wired or wireless, and it's less likely to find true noise-cancelling earbuds.

No matter what type of tech you use to listen to audio, you'll want to consider the health of your ears.

"Using closed-back headphones, earphones or earbuds for extended periods can increase the risk of ear canal irritation or infections, especially if moisture gets trapped," Dr. Williams says. "Make sure to regularly clean your earphones or earbuds as directed by the manufacturer's instructions, as well as practice good hygiene. If your ears feel irritated or show signs of infection after using audio equipment, consult your doctor."

Are there specific types of headphones that are better for hearing health?

If your audio equipment is better at filtering out ambient sound, whether through active noise cancellation (ANC) technology or through the fit in or on the ear, it may be better at helping protect your hearing.

"Noise cancellation reduces unwanted background sounds, reducing the need to raise the volume," Dr. Williams says. "However, it's important to use these headphones in a safe environment where you won't miss important alerts or emergency signals."

Dr. Williams also notes that noise-cancelling headphones reduce the likelihood of turning up the volume, which can cause potential hearing loss. However, they are not considered hearing protection. She suggests using adequate hearing protection in loud environments, such as concerts and some workplaces.

What volume level is safe for listening to music through headphones?

We often think of someone saying, "turn it up" to affirm they enjoy a song. However, volume isn't a friend to our hearing health. And with some headphone types being placed in the ear canal, prolonged listening at high volumes can cause hearing issues.

"I usually recommend keeping device volume at or below 50% — whether it's a phone, tablet, etc. — to protect your hearing," Dr. Williams says.

How long you listen to content through headphones can also affect safety. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), you can safely listen to 85 dB for eight hours a day, and up to a total of 40 hours a week. Decibels (dB), a measurement unit of sound intensity, range from 0, barely audible by the human ear, to 130, the human threshold for pain with sound intensity.

It's important to note that safe listening time rapidly decreases as volume increases.

Plus, headphones fit can affect your listening habits, which is crucial for how long you can safely wear them.

"The fit does matter, because you want headphones to cover the ear securely or have a tight seal to reduce the need to increase the overall volume," Dr. Williams says.

If you use headphones for extended periods, Dr. Williams recommends taking breaks.

"It's recommended to follow the 60/60 rule: listen at no more than 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time, followed by a short break," Dr. Williams says. "Ideally, you should take a 5-to-10-minute break every hour to give your ears a rest."

Are there headphone brands or models designed for hearing protection?

Dr. Williams says that some headphone brands and models are designed with hearing health in mind. She recommends looking for products that offer volume limiting, noise isolation, or active noise cancellation (ANC). These features help protect your ears by reducing the need to turn the volume up.

Although not an exhaustive list, here are a few examples that fit the criteria:

Sony WH-1000XM5 or Sony WF-1000XM5 (earbuds)
Bose QuietComfort Series
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen)

Is it bad to wear headphones while sleeping?

Dr. Williams emphasizes that wearing earphones while sleeping isn't necessarily harmful, but there are a few important precautions to consider for your hearing and overall comfort.

"Listening to sleep sounds, ASMR, or calming music at a low volume (ideally under 50%) can be soothing, but prolonged exposure at higher volumes may lead to hearing damage," Dr. Williams says. "For safer listening, consider sleep-specific audio devices like soft headband headphones or pillow speakers. Opt for wireless models to avoid the risk of getting tangled in cords. Setting a timer so the audio turns off after you fall asleep and keeping your earphones clean are also good habits to minimize potential issues."

Signs of hearing loss, and when to talk to your doctor

Hearing loss often goes unnoticed, as it can be subtle and progress slowly. Dr. Williams recommends talking with your doctor if you notice any of the following signs: