Absolutely wireless headphones have both a number of advantages and certain disadvantages compared to their wired counterparts. It is mainly about comfort, technical specifications, uptime and other features.

In addition, wireless headphones are the cause of a number of discussions about the potential danger to the health of the user. It’s time to find out whether such a device can really pose a danger to us and whether it is possible to protect ourselves from it.

Almost Magic: How Wireless Headphones Work

To talk about the potential danger to humans, it is first necessary to understand the working principles of wireless headphones and the technologies used for their operation.

Bluetooth headphones use the 2.4 GHz frequency for operation (as with many other devices of this type). This range is close to cellular communication, so when assessing the effect on the body, the power of the transmitter should be taken into account: as a rule, the maximum indicator in such devices is 2.5 mW, which is significantly less than its power. cellular communication modules in the smartphone.

As for Bluetooth technology, it produces non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (NEM). Everything is not so clear here. The fact is, some studies prove that even small amounts of NEV can have adverse effects on the body if this effect is long and constant.

At the same time, studies were conducted on laboratory rats under certain conditions: the entire body of the animal was exposed to radiation, transmitters more powerful than those found in mobile phones were used, and the exposure was much longer than in normal conditions.

The non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation produced by wireless headphones is 10 to 400 times lower than the permissible norm.

How to connect headphones with a smartphone / Photo telelink

In fact, non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation can be dangerous only if a person has intense direct contact with it. This scenario is rare and usually only affects those who work with tools and devices that are large sources of non-ionizing radiation.

What are they most afraid of?

One of the potential dangers that even scientists have mentioned before is that electromagnetic radiation passes too close to the brain. A few years ago, researchers believed that AirPods were harmful to health – scientists assumed that their stay in the ear canal exposed the tissues in the head to strong radiation.

While scientists have yet to find any evidence of the harmful effects of transmitters in smartphones, headphones, and other equipment that could have negative consequences for human health, it sounds pretty distasteful.

Are wireless headphones harmful or not?

In fact, talking about the danger of wireless headphones to human health is a myth similar in spirit to stories about the harm of routers, telephones, or microwaves. At the same time, you can find a number of comments and complaints about headaches in social networks, forums or reviews of certain products. There are several explanations for this.

Cheap copies of headphones pose a particular danger to human health, and we are not trying to scare you into buying original and much more expensive accessories. Yes, today you can buy fake, but much cheaper headphones from any manufacturer, from Apple to Sennheiser and others.

But these headphones are not cheaper just because expensive brands want to save money from customers. Cheap analogues use significantly cheaper and lower-quality components that do not meet sanitary standards, and therefore can really harm your body.

In this case, the organ that can really suffer is your ears. Practice shows that the volume in fake versions of popular headphones is much higher than in the original ones. We are not talking about sound quality and the use of original technologies, or at least analogues. Quite often, when listening to “cheap copies”, various distortions can be heard, synchronization between the headphones can be lost, and the volume often “jumps”.

Better to pay extra for original headphones than buy fake/Unsplash photos

Hygiene of using headphones

It should be emphasized that even the use of expensive original headphones is associated with certain risks to your health. First of all, we are talking about hearing, which suffers the most if the rules for using headphones are neglected. Yes, there are certain rules for using these devices and they must be followed if you want to hear well.

Most of us use headphones for a few hours every day. Some complain of mild fatigue or headaches after such a usage scenario, while others are more persistent. Experts remind that no design, ear cushions or even optimum volume can protect you from unpleasant consequences, and add some important tips to maintain the hygiene of listening to music with headphones:

• Do not listen to music with headphones for more than 2-3 hours a day.
• Stop using any earphones to avoid damaging your hearing. Give your ears some rest. This will save you from headaches and feeling tired.
• Do not set the maximum volume: it is better to listen to music in the background at a low level so that there are no hearing problems.
• Try not to sleep with headphones: even if it is not a headache in the morning, the ears will feel discomfort when turning to the side in a dream due to the pressure of the headphones on the auricles.
• Do not use headphones when crossing the street – it reduces your attention. For example, you may not notice car signals while walking on the street.

Solution

To date, there is no direct evidence that the use of wireless headphones is dangerous to humans. Although some research has shown that exposure to high levels of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation can be dangerous, scientists are unsure whether direct parallels can be drawn between the use of TWS earplugs and the potential harm to health.

It is also important to remember that Bluetooth headphones produce much less electromagnetic radiation than mobile phones. However, researchers do not yet know whether Bluetooth headphones are completely safe to use.

Therefore, some people may be wary of this technique. If you are among such people, we recommend that you reduce the use of wireless headphones and other wireless devices for your own peace of mind.

Like any other technology, wireless headphones should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and the recommendations of specialists and physicians. Hygienic use of earplugs is extremely important, as we use this device almost every day at the same level as a smartphone.