As noise-cancelling headphones become the norm, audiologists are questioning what constant sound control is doing to our brains
Noise-cancelling headphones have become one of the defining accessories of modern life – a sanctuary in our increasingly loud and chaotic world. From commuters on packed trains to students trying to focus in libraries or cafés, millions now rely on these devices to filter out the constant hum of modern life and dial in to whatever they choose to hear.
But while the technology has undeniable benefits, a growing number of audiologists are beginning to ask whether overuse of noise-cancelling headphones could be interfering with the brain’s natural development – especially in teenagers and young adults.
The concern centres on a rise in referrals of young people for hearing issues – where the ear itself is fine, but the brain seems to be struggling to process sound. The condition, known as auditory processing disorder (APD), affects how the brain interprets and filters the sounds it receives. And it appears to be affecting more people who fall outside traditional risk categories.
A hidden hearing problem
One such case is Sophie, a 25-year-old administration assistant from London. She told the BBC that she regularly wore her noise-cancelling headphones for up to five hours a day – and began experiencing symptoms of APD while at university.
“All the words sounded like gibberish when I was in the actual lecture and I was trying to hear,” she said. Her hearing test came back normal, but further assessment by a private audiologist led to an APD diagnosis.
Although APD has historically been linked to brain injuries, middle-ear infections or neurodivergence, audiologists are increasingly seeing patients like Sophie who don’t fit those categories. This has prompted calls for more research into the link between prolonged use of noise-cancelling headphones and changes in how the brain processes sound.
Creating a “false” sound world
Claire Benton, vice-president of the British Academy of Audiology, told the BBC that constantly shutting out real-world noise may reduce the brain’s ability to filter important sounds – something it only fully learns to do in the late teens.
“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,” she said.
Renée Almeida, clinical lead for adult audiology at Imperial College Healthcare, made a similar point. “There is a difference between hearing and listening,” she said. “We can see that listening skills are suffering.”
This view is backed by clinicians at several NHS audiology departments. They have seen a rise in young people being referred with hearing difficulties – but whose standard hearing tests showed no problems with the ears themselves.
Why sound variety matters
Hearology®, a hearing and ear specialist that provides hearing tests, tinnitus support and microsuction ear wax removal amongst a variety of other services, agrees that these concerns are credible.
“There is limited evidence on the extent to which noise-cancelling headphones and earphones protect our hearing. While noise-cancelling reduces the perception of external noise, it may not fully eliminate the risk of hearing damage from dangerously high noise levels” said Micaela Stonestreet, a Clinical Audiologist who works at Hearology®. “It is important to protect your ears from dangerous noise, but we should be careful not to completely tune out everyday sounds. Our brains are wired to interact with sound, not just escape it.”
The Hearology® clinic recommends that users of noise-cancelling headphones take regular breaks and use transparency modes to allow natural sound in, especially in safe environments where situational awareness is important. “Our brains need auditory stimulation in order to build the complex skills that allow us to filter noise, locate danger and stay connected socially,” said Stonestreet.
Demand for support is growing – but provision is limited
Despite rising awareness, access to treatment remains patchy. In England, the only NHS clinic offering full APD assessments for people over 16 is at the Royal National ENT and Eastman Hospital – and the waiting list is nine months long. A 2024 survey found that just 4% of audiologists consider themselves well-informed about APD.
Children may have better access via schools, but even there, services vary. Great Ormond Street Hospital has seen a “significant increase” in demand for assessments, particularly among children who struggle to hear in noisy classrooms.
Treatment options range from training exercises using apps, to help the brain distinguish speech from background noise, to low-gain hearing aids and remote microphones for use in schools or meetings. But adults outside the education system are often left to seek help privately.
A call for research – and for moderation
Researchers say it’s still too early to draw firm conclusions. Wayne Wilson, associate professor at the University of Queensland, told the BBC that studying the effects of noise-cancellation is challenging because of the number of variables: the type of headphones, duration of use, age of the user, and the specific sound environments.
But most agree on one thing: the time to investigate is now.
Noise-cancelling headphones are not going away. Used thoughtfully, they can protect hearing and improve focus. But they also risk replacing natural soundscapes with a highly controlled sonic environment that may – if overused – limit how the brain develops its own vital filters.
If the goal is long-term auditory health, the solution may lie not in switching off the outside world completely, but in learning when to let it in.
References
- Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) - Provides information on the prevalence and characteristics of APD, including its potential causes and effects, which aligns with the discussion on the condition's impact on auditory development.
- Auditory Processing Disorders Demographics - Offers insights into the demographics of APD, including its prevalence among different populations, which supports the discussion on the condition's broader implications.
- Auditory Processing Center - Supports the claim that auditory processing disorder (APD) is a condition characterized by difficulties in interpreting sounds and speech, and it highlights the prevalence of APD among children with learning difficulties.
- Central Auditory Processing Disorder - Provides detailed information on APD, including its symptoms and challenges in diagnosis, which corroborates the article's points on the condition's complexities.
