Noise-cancelling headphones: Are they good enough for hearing protection?

There is a common misconception that noise-cancelling headphones protect you from dangerous noise. While active noise cancelling (ANC) is effective for reducing background noise like traffic, plane engines, air conditioning, and café chatter, it is less effective at blocking more dangerous sounds.

The "noise" that noise-cancelling headphones remove is mostly unwanted sound.

For example, a loud conversation between colleagues in an open office can be distracting. The noise that many headphones advertise to cancel is mostly static and periodic, like the droning of an airplane engine or the hum of an air conditioner.

On the other hand, harmful noise can damage our hearing, even if it is desirable, like music. The risk arises from the noise level and duration of exposure. When exposure exceeds 85dB for 8 hours a day, you risk acquiring Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). At 100dB, the level of a rock concert, the safe exposure time is only 15 minutes.

Potentially damaging sound is not necessarily the same as unwanted sound. The problem is that many people do not know if they are exposed to unwanted or damaging sounds. Consequently, users of noise-cancelling headphones often mistakenly believe they are using them as hearing protection, which can be misleading.

The truth about noise-cancelling headphones

Most consumer-grade ANC headphones are not tested or certified as hearing protection.

In contrast, CE-marked hearing protection undergoes testing to ensure that most users achieve a certain level of protection, with high standards for fitting instructions.

The packaging of certified products is marked with a standardized reduction rating, typically an SNR or NRR rating. Typical noise-cancelling earphones do not have this certification, making their effectiveness uncertain.

Noise-cancelling headphones reduce sound more than open or semi-closed headphones, allowing for lower playback levels to drown out ambient noise. However, many users lack insight into what constitutes damaging levels or how long it is safe to listen to music at specific volumes.

This false sense of security may lead users to play louder music for extended periods, increasing the risk of NIHL.

I know that isolation means safety - wrong!

Wearing over-the-ear headphones with a tight seal may protect your hearing from outside noise. However, even if they function as hearing protection, isolating yourself from your environment can be dangerous.

Essential cues in our sound environment, like the sound of an approaching vehicle, are crucial for spatial and situational awareness. Noise-cancelling technology may disproportionately remove some sounds, leading to disorientation.

Many products now feature hear-through functionality, amplifying the sound environment instead of reducing it. However, limitations in microphones, signal processing, and loudspeakers can hinder accurate sound representation, affecting the user's ability to determine sound source direction and distance.

Noise-cancelling vs industrial earplugs

Noise-cancelling technology is excellent for blocking annoying noises like engines and ventilation. It allows you to enjoy music without disturbances in noisy environments like public transportation.

However, using earplugs certified as hearing protection is the recommended approach if you want to protect yourself while:

• Still being able to communicate
• Being aware of your surroundings
• Enjoying live music to its fullest

Looking for real hearing protection?

With advances in technology and design, many modern earbuds can block out noise while maintaining a flat frequency response. One such product we have tested is Minuendo.

Minuendo variable earplugs can reduce sound levels by 7 to 25dB without frequency degradation, and they come with a variety of ear tips for a comfortable fit.

We have partnered with Minuendo to offer this excellent product on our website. Visit https://www.soundbrenner.com/shop-minuendo to learn more!