Latest news with #ClaireBenton
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why noise-cancelling headphones damage your brain's ability to process sound, per audiology experts
Noise-cancelling headphones are used to drown out the sound of colleagues while you're trying to focus work, get in the zone when lifting in the gym or avoid distractions when meditating. But now audiologists warn they could also be damaging your hearing. Five NHS audiology departments told the BBC that there has been an increase in the number of young people referred to them from GPs with hearing issues. However, the experts warn that their hearing is fine – it's their ability to process sound that's impacted. Known as auditory processing disorder (APD), the neurological condition means the brain finds it difficult to understand sounds and spoken words. The NHS says APD is typically seen in people who have had regular ear infections, a head injury or complications at birth. It's also more common in neurodiverse people. However, ADP is now becoming more common in people without these complications, making audiologists question if other factors, like noise-cancelling headphones, are contributing. APD is described as "what we do with what we hear", which means how the central nervous system uses auditory information it receives,' say researchers into the condition. The symptoms, say the NHS, may include finding it difficult to understand: people speaking in noisy places people with strong accents or fast talkers similar sounding words spoken instructions This link is anecdotal and the link is just a hypothesis – there's no solid proof that headphones may be to blame. However, audiologists told the BBC that there had been a 'significant increase in demand' for services and APD assessments. Claire Benton, vice president of the British Academy of Audiology, told the BBC that noise-cancelling headphones that block the layers of sound may make it harder for the brain to learn what to focus on. She suggested that by blocking out everyday sounds such as train noise or car beeps, the brain may 'forget' to filter the noises out itself. '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. 'Those more complex, high-level listening skills in your brain only really finish developing towards your late teens. So, if you have only been wearing noise-cancelling headphones and been in this false world for your late teens then you are slightly delaying your ability to process speech and noise.' If you work in loud environments, noise-cancelling headphones can help preserve your hearing. If you are worried that your listening and noise processing may be compromised, it's important to get it checked out. Book an appointment with a GP who can refer you to audiology services if needed. The treatment for APD involves auditory training – doing activities to improve listening and concentration. Could your stress and anxiety be linked to ADHD? Microplastics are invading your brain - here's what that means for your health 5 reasons exercise is the best thing you can do for your brain You Might Also Like 13 Buys To Help You Feel Great From £5 16 Speedo Swimsuits that Won't Flash Your Bum When Getting Swim-fit 11 Best Gym Trainers for Different Types of Workouts
Telegraph
16-02-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Noise-cancelling headphones may be linked to rise in Gen Z neurological problems, experts fear
Noise-cancelling headphones are fuelling a rise in neurological disorders among Gen Z, experts fear. The explosion in use of the headphones, which block out external sounds, has led to an increase in hearing issues that are actually triggered by the brain, NHS audiologists have warned. Leading experts said they are seeing more young people being referred to them for apparent hearing issues, but on inspection discovering their hearing is normal and that the problem is neurological: their brain is struggling to process what it hears. This condition is called auditory processing disorder (APD). It is when the brain struggles to understand sounds or words, and in particular cannot differentiate them against background noise. This makes it hard for sufferers to engage in conversation during social situations or clearly hear instructions at work or school. They might struggle with fast talkers or unfamiliar accents, and the condition has historically been linked to childhood brain injury, ear infection or a faulty gene. But the growing prevalence of this phenomenon has led some experts to blame the surging popularity of noise-cancelling headphones with the brain unlearning how to differentiate – and then block out – background noise. Hearing and listening Renee Almeida, an adult audiology clinical lead at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said she had seen an increase in young people being referred, and that it was important to hear a diversity of sounds so the brain can decide what is important to focus on. 'There is a difference between hearing and listening. We can see that listening skills are suffering,' she told the BBC. APD is more common in neurodiverse people, or those who have suffered from a brain injury or had a middle-ear infection as a child. But more patients without these prerequisites are presenting with the disorder and audiologists are wondering if other factors, such as noise-cancelling headphones, are behind it. The headphones, which endeavour to block out external noise for users, can be useful for some people and in some situations they serve to protect them from loud noises. But the level of acoustic seal can vary from product to product and the experts believe they may also be untraining the brain in how to naturally block out background noise. Filtering out noises Claire Benton, vice president of the British Academy of Audiology, suggested that by blocking out everyday sounds such as train noise or car beeps, the brain may 'forget' to filter the noises out. '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 told BBC. 'Those more complex, high-level listening skills in your brain only really finish developing towards your late teens. So, if you have only been wearing noise-cancelling headphones and been in this false world for your late teens then you are slightly delaying your ability to process speech and noise,' she said. The Royal National ENT and Eastman Hospital is the only NHS provider in England offering a full APD assessment and the waiting list is nine months long. Prof Doris-Eva Bamiou, who carries out the assessments there, said it was partially down to the time it takes to diagnose APD. 'It is a costly service because it is not just an audiogram, the test can take up to two hours and it requires additional assessments. In adults I also refer them for a cognitive assessment and in children I may also need to speak to an educational psychologist.' Watching with subtitles It comes as the way people listen to music and watch videos or television has changed since the pandemic. More than three in five young adults aged 18 to 24 watch their favourite shows with subtitles on, according to one YouGov survey. Dr Amjad Mahmood, the head of audiology at Great Ormond Street Hospital, told the BBC there had been a 'significant increase in demand' for assessments at the hospital's clinic for under-16s. Treatment methods vary and often involve re-exposing the ears and brain to process words against a backdrop of noise. This can include app-based games, or microphones and low-gain hearing aids. Sophie, a 25-year-old administration assistant from London, was diagnosed with the condition after being told she doesn't listen, zones out, or is 'a bit ditsy'. 'Even though I can hear that there are noises going on, I can't listen to where the noise is coming from. I know it's the person's voice, I just can't really compute it quick enough,' she told BBC. She said all the words 'sound like gibberish' during lectures at university, which led to her watching them online with subtitles instead of attending in person. Her audiologist, who believes it was caused by wearing noise-cancelling headphones for five hours per day, is among those calling for more research into whether the condition is linked to overuse of the headphones.
