Headphones are no longer an occasional accessory—they’re part of daily life. From early-morning podcasts to late-night playlists, our ears are spending more time under acoustic load than ever before. But a question keeps coming up in clinics, classrooms, and conversations around ear health: Are earbuds worse for your hearing than over-ear headphones? Let’s move beyond opinion and aesthetics. By looking at sound pressure levels , hygiene , and long-term listening behaviour , we can reach a clear, evidence-informed conclusion. 1. Sound Pressure Levels: Distance Matters More Than You Think The single most important factor in headphone-related hearing risk is the amount of sound energy that reaches the inner ear . Earbuds (In-Ear Headphones) Sit millimetres from the eardrum Deliver sound directly into the ear canal Require lower absolute power , but often result in higher sound pressure at the cochlea Users tend to increase volume in noisy environments (commuting, g...
Ear cartilage meatoplasty (conchal cartilage reduction) for external ear canal stenosis — an operation to widen the entrance (outer/cartilaginous part) of the ear canal by reshaping/removing the obstructing conchal cartilage and associated soft tissue, so the canal stays open and can ventilate, drain, and be cleaned. Why is this being recommended? Your ear canal is narrowed because the conchal cartilage (the bowl-shaped cartilage at the ear opening) is bulky or positioned in a way that crowds the canal entrance. This can lead to a cycle of wax trapping, recurrent otitis externa/inflammation, discharge, blocked hearing, difficulty examining the eardrum , and repeated need for microsuction. Meatoplasty aims to restore a stable, self-cleaning canal opening and reduce recurrent problems. What benefit can you reasonably expect? The intended benefits are: easier ear toilet/cleaning, fewer blockages and infections, improved access for drops and examination, and (i...