Your AirPods might be the most
dangerous thing in your ears.
And the worst part? They feel completely harmless. Here's what every Canberran plugged into their earbuds needs to know — before the damage is done.
We've all done it. The question is how much damage we've caused.
The walk to work. The gym session. The commute home. Earbuds have become the constant companion of modern life — and in Canberra, where a daily walk around the lake or a ride along the Centenary Trail is practically a rite of passage, we're listening more than ever.
But here's what most people don't realise: the way most of us use earbuds puts us firmly in the danger zone for noise-induced hearing loss.
It's not just about volume. It's about duration, frequency, and the compounding effect of years of daily exposure. A single loud concert might ring in your ears for a night. Daily earbud use at unsafe levels quietly erodes your hearing over years — and you won't notice until it's too late to do anything about it.
Once it's gone, it's gone.
There's a common misconception that hearing damage can simply be fixed later. It can't. There is no surgery, no hearing aid, no treatment that restores lost hearing. Damage to the delicate structures of the inner ear is permanent.
What makes this especially sneaky is that hearing loss is cumulative and often invisible — it creeps up over years of daily exposure, and by the time you notice, significant damage has already occurred.
Hearing loss has also been linked to cognitive decline, lower earning potential, and poorer mental health outcomes. This isn't just about turning the TV up louder in your 60s — it affects your whole life.
Your ears are already trying to tell you something.
- Ringing or buzzing after listening sessions — this is tinnitus, and it's a sign your ears have been stressed
- Needing to turn the volume up more than you used to — your ears are adapting, and not in a good way
- Struggling in noisy environments — cafés, restaurants, open-plan offices where conversation used to be easy
- People commenting your volume is too high — sometimes others notice before you do
- Muffled sound after a long session — a sign of temporary threshold shift that, over time, becomes permanent
This is entirely preventable. Here's how.
Get a baseline hearing test — while you still can.
The best time to check your hearing is before you notice a problem. A baseline test gives you a reference point — so if anything changes, you'll know exactly when and how much.
Book a hearing check →Medical disclaimer: This article provides general information about hearing health and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified audiologist or healthcare professional for personalised recommendations.
Leave A Comment