Our modern world is notoriously busy and notoriously noisy. So it's no surprise that people have gravitated towards active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones to silence the outside world and enjoy what they want to be listening to. But ANC headphones come with a significant downside: they can be painful.

So why do ANC headphones hurt your ears, and is there anything you can do about it?

Active Noise-Canceling Technology

What's important to remember when thinking of ANC headphones is that they do not physically block out noise. In other words, there's no impervious barrier being created by the bud material. This is the case for passive noise-canceling (PNC) headphones, which we won't discuss here.

Instead, ANC headphones use a nifty technique to cancel out external noise. Each earbud is equipped with one or more microphones that listen to the noises of the outside world. These microphones are always active when your earphones are in use, so they can monitor and work with the changing ambient noise.

The earphones then use this noise and mirror it in a process known as phase inversion. This creates sound waves with an opposite phase to the sound waves all around you. Put the external and inverse wave phases together, and they can create silence within your ear, leaving more room for your earphone audio to take the stage.

This is great for filtering out most noises, but tricking your ears in such a way can negatively affect your body. So, how do ANC headphones cause such problems?

Why Do ANC Headphones Hurt?

Some people can wear ANC headphones without ever experiencing issues. Our bodies are all slightly different, so naturally, we don't all react to things the same way. But the pain from ANC headphones is by no means rare, either. Sometimes people have to stop using their ANC buds altogether because of the side effects.

But what causes this?

The pain ANC headphones can cause relates to how they work, which we discussed previously. The canceling of external sound waves with phase inversion creates a sort of sucking effect within your ear, which your brain will likely mistake for a pressure difference. Some believe that this pressure is real, while others think it is simply a trick of the mind.

But in any case, you can feel it, and it can give way to pain.

Additionally, people have also reported feeling sick or dizzy when using ANC headphones. This is because ANC buds generate low-frequency sound waves (usually under 1kHz) to cancel out external noise, which, in turn, can trick your brain into thinking you're moving when you're not. Such a phenomenon can lead to psychosomatic motion sickness or dizziness.

But it's important to note that no evidence suggests that ANC headphones can permanently damage your ears.

How to Prevent ANC Headphone Pain

Some people simply aren't built for current ANC headphones and are better off using either PNC or regular headphones instead. But there are things you can do to ease the discomfort caused by your ANC headphones.

Firstly, you should always aim to buy earphones that are well-suited to the shape of your ear. Some ear tips are very uncomfortable and can add to the discomfort caused by the ANC technology.

On top of this, if your ANC buds have adjustable settings, consider turning down the noise-canceling element a little to reduce the feeling of pressure within your ear. You can also buy cheaper ANC headphones that won't produce the same level of noise canceling, which will therefore be easier on your ears.

Of course, if you're reducing the degree of noise cancelation, you may experience more interference from external sounds. However, cheaper headphones may also have lower sound quality, although there are some ways to solve this. But this is the tricky balance you'll need to work with if your ANC headphones are causing you pain or nausea.

If you're yet to buy a pair of ANC headphones but are worried about the side effects, try doing a little research on the models you're interested in to see if any are prone to causing physical issues. You should also know about the terms headphones manufacturers use so you're not lost in the discussion and you can make the best choice.

ANC Headphones Aren't Perfect for Everyone

In short, not everyone is going to enjoy using ANC headphones. Depending on the model you're using, the reaction of your ears will likely vary. But if you're experiencing pain or nausea when using your ANC headphones, try some of the tips above to see if you can reduce the adverse effects and get back to enjoying your audio in peace.