Skip to main content

Are noise-canceling headphones really hurting kids’ hearing?

Kid lying on a bed wearing headphones while using a tablet.
Emily Wade / Unsplash

On February 15, BBC News published an article that explored the possible link between the use of noise-canceling headphones and auditory processing disorder (APD) in young people. This will likely come as a shock to many parents who have come to think of these devices as helpful for their kids’ concentration. Parents of neurodivergent children in particular, see noise-canceling headphones as a vital tool that helps their kids navigate environments that would otherwise be overwhelming.

The existence of a possible APD link also flies in the face of the advice parents are usually given around the use of headphones. Normally, the chief concern with headphones and earbuds is that kids will listen at unsafe volume levels, which could lead to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).

Recommended Videos

However, it’s the silence, not the noise, that led audiologists interviewed by the BBC to question the effect that noise-canceling might be having on young brains.

What is APD?

APD, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a type of hearing loss caused by something affecting the part of the brain that processes how you hear. In other words, it’s possible to have normal hearing, yet still suffer the symptoms of APD, which can include difficulty telling where sound is coming from, understanding words that are spoken quickly or in a noisy room, and paying attention.

Though there is no known cure for APD, the condition can be treated, giving patients better hearing over time.

Why might noise-canceling headphones cause APD?

APD in children is linked to “issues at birth, such as low birth weight or early birth, or repeated ear infections,” according to the Clinic. However, the audiologists interviewed for the BBC story have noted an increase in the number of young people referred to them with hearing issues “only to find their hearing is normal when tested and it is their ability to process sound that is struggling.”

As an example, the article describes the experience of Sophie, a 25 year-old administrative assistant recently diagnosed with APD. Sophie noticed a change in her hearing after she began attending most of her university lectures online, with subtitles. Her audiologist hasn’t determined a cause for Sophie’s APD, but nonetheless pointed to Sophie’s noise-canceling headphones, which she wears “for up to five hours a day” as a possible factor.

The theory, as explained by British Academy of Audiology vice-president, Claire Benton, is that by blocking everyday sounds such as cars beeping, there is a possibility the brain can “forget” to filter out the noise. “You have almost created this false environment by wearing those headphones of only listening to what you want to listen to. You are not having to work at it,” Benton told BBC News health reporter, Hannah Karpel.

No consensus

Curious to see if other audiologists share Benton’s concern, I reached out to Dr. Ruth Reisman, an adjunct professor of audiology, the owner of Urban Hearing in Brooklyn, New York, and an audiologist who specializes in the diagnosis of APD.

Some of her patients with APD like to use noise-canceling headphones, but she rejects that there’s a connection. “I don’t believe there is a correlation between noise-canceling headphones and inducing auditory processing disorder,” Reisman told me. Reisman’s private practice diagnoses 150-250 patients a year with APD from all age groups.

Reisman welcomes any reliable studies that show a significant correlation, but cautioned that she hasn’t seen any reliable ones to date.

Reisman doesn’t distinguish between noise-canceling and regular headphones when advising patients on their use. Her primary concern is noise-induced damage. “We council all patients not to extend usage of headphones for a long periods of time, to take regular breaks, and to lower the volume to avoid any damage to the ears.”

I also reached out to the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA). Its director of strategic communications, Meredith Resnick, said the association couldn’t comment on APD or any possible link to noise-canceling headphones, but it echoed Dr. Reisman’s advice: “People should turn down the volume of air buds and headphones, and limit the amount of time that you use them,” in order to avoid damage from exposure to loud noise levels.

Studies needed

The BBC’s article includes several calls for more studies on a possible link between APD and noise-canceling headphones, but it also noted the difficulty involved in conducting the research.

“The devil is in the detail as the answer probably depends on which sounds, which scenes, which noise, which noise cancellation, what period of noise cancellation, what age of child, etc,” associate professor in the school of health and rehabilitation sciences at The University of Queensland, Wayne Wilson, told Karpel.

Correlation isn’t causation

For worried parents, it’s worth noting that not only is there an absence of scientifically rigorous evidence to support a link between APD and noise-canceling cans, but also, audiologists’ concerns appear to be based on correlating an increase in the use of these devices and an increase in APD diagnoses among those who don’t share typical APD medical histories.

None of the experts interview by BBC News claim that noise-canceling headphones cause APD.

Simon Cohen
Simon Cohen is a contributing editor to Digital Trends' Audio/Video section, where he obsesses over the latest wireless…
Has 1More cracked the code on affordable Wi-Fi headphones?
1More SonoFlow Max Over-Ear Headphones HQ70.

We almost walked right by 1More's booth at CES 2025, but I'm glad I stopped in. Sitting there amidst the company's existing wireless earbuds and headphones was a set of wireless cans I didn't recognize. I was struck by the design -- they look like a mashup of Sony's WH-1000XM5 and Apple's AirPods Max -- but it's what they do that really caught my attention: They're 1More's first Wi-Fi headphones, and if all goes well, they could be the first Wi-Fi headphones that are priced within reach for most people.

Their official name is 1More SonoFlow Max Over-Ear Headphones HQ70. 1More expects them to be available by the end of September 2025. We don't know how much they'll cost, but given 1More's reputation for delivering high quality audio at ultra low prices, my guess is that they'll be under $300.

Read more
Audio-Technica’s latest earbuds snap together to save power
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2.

Audio-Technica's (A-T) presence at CES 2025 is pretty low-key this year, but it does have one clever trick up its sleeve when it comes to wireless earbuds: "Magnetic Switch" technology. The company's new ATH-CKS50TW2 (what a mouthful) take 2022's superb mega-bass ATH-CKS50TW earbuds and reimagine them with a new shape, a new charging case, and cool new feature -- if you don't have the charging case with you, just bring the two buds near each other and their embedded magnets will hold them together while powering them down. You can buy them right now for $149.

Not that you'll likely have to worry much about running out of power. Improving on their predecessor's already mammoth 20-hour-per-charge capacity, the CKS50TW2 get a claimed 25 hours per charge, with an additional 40 hours standing by in the charging case. That's totally nuts. To put it in perspective, the ATH-CKS50TW2 can last as long on a single charge as the Apple AirPods Pro 2 can last when you include their charging case's supply.

Read more
Earfun unveils real-time translation earbuds, headphones with huge battery at CES 2025
Earfun Air Pro 4+.

At previous CES events, budget-friendly audio brand Earfun has been content to roll out one or two new products. For CES 2025, it's a very different story. This year, Earfun has taken the wraps off six new products, including clip and open-ear style earbud models -- a first for the company. It has also updated its flagship wireless earbuds with multi-language real-time AI translation. The new products will be made available throughout the first half of 2025.

Here's the full lineup:
Earfun AirPro 4+, $100, May 2025

Read more