No, it's just a buzzy speaker that sits against your head. If you turn it up too loud it'll start to tickle. Everyone else around can hear what you're listening to and the sound quality sucks. Just get earbuds. Answer from SummitCollie on reddit.com
Hearing Health & Technology Matters
hearinghealthmatters.org › home › bad to the bone headsets
Bone Conduction Headsets: Bad to the Bone
December 1, 2024 - We explore some of the potential side effects associated with these headphones below · General Discomfort or Pressure: Probably the most common issue to encounter. Some users may experience discomfort or pressure on their cheekbones, temporal ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/asktechnology › does bone conduction headphones have side effects?
r/AskTechnology on Reddit: Does bone conduction headphones have side effects?
May 26, 2023 - Many people think that bone conduction headphones have side effects. Some people think that they are harmful to the body because they vibrates the bones to hear the sound which will affect the brain. However, this statement is not accurate. The side effects of bone conduction are very low.
A Cautionary Tale Regarding Bone Conduction Headphones (Aftershokz OpenComm)
I damaged my left ear in Oct '24 from a concert, which gave me unilateral tinnitus. Since then, I've diligently protected my hearing, and my audiogram has been stable for over a year. I have been using the Aftershokz Opencomm bone conduction headphones for work calls. I only use the right-side... More on tinnitustalk.com
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physiology - Are bone conduction headphones safer with regards to hearing loss? - Skeptics Stack Exchange
In this video, at about 1:35, a claim is made that bone conduction headphones are safer with regards to hearing loss, because the sound doesn't "affect the eardrum". Is that true? I thought hearin... More on skeptics.stackexchange.com
Does bone conduction headphones have side effects?
No, it's just a buzzy speaker that sits against your head. If you turn it up too loud it'll start to tickle. Everyone else around can hear what you're listening to and the sound quality sucks. Just get earbuds. More on reddit.com
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May 26, 2023Is bone conduction headphone safe?
Audiologist here who uses bone conduction headphones. They are no less safe than any headphone that goes in or over your ear. I like bone conduction for the safety factor of when I bike or lift weights, I can still hear what's around me for safety (but some people don't like that and that's fair!) All that matters is the volume of listening to them. You can tell when bone conduction is too loud because you physically feel the headphones vibrating (and that's quite annoying to be honest). So it's not less safe volume wise, but for safety wise I love them and recommend them! More on reddit.com
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December 29, 2022How often should I test employee hearing?
At a minimum, employees should receive a baseline audiogram followed by annual testing. Soundtrace allows more frequent, flexible testing as needed—especially after high exposures or STS events.
soundtrace.com
soundtrace.com › blog › the-hidden-risks-of-bone-conduction-headphones-revealed-safeguarding-your-hearing-health
The Hidden Risks of Bone Conduction Headphones Revealed: Safeguarding ...
How do I perform hearing protection fit testing?
Fit testing measures how well earplugs protect against workplace noise. Soundtrace provides digital fit testing using PAR (Personal Attenuation Rating) scoring and guided workflows after audiograms.
soundtrace.com
soundtrace.com › blog › the-hidden-risks-of-bone-conduction-headphones-revealed-safeguarding-your-hearing-health
The Hidden Risks of Bone Conduction Headphones Revealed: Safeguarding ...
What is the best digital solution for hearing conservation compliance?
Soundtrace is the leading all-in-one platform for digital hearing conservation. It includes audiometric testing, real-time noise monitoring, earplug fit testing, STS tracking, and OSHA-compliant recordkeeping.
soundtrace.com
soundtrace.com › blog › the-hidden-risks-of-bone-conduction-headphones-revealed-safeguarding-your-hearing-health
The Hidden Risks of Bone Conduction Headphones Revealed: Safeguarding ...
Videos
04:08
Are Bone Conduction Headphones Safe? Audiologists Weigh In. - YouTube
06:46
The Truth On Bone Conduction Headphones? - YouTube
05:30
Can bone conduction headphones damage your hearing? - YouTube
08:41
Bone Conduction is DEAD ❌ Bone Conduction vs Open Earbuds - YouTube
07:27
The Science of How Bone Conduction Headphones Work - Feat. The ...
Soundtrace
soundtrace.com › blog › the-hidden-risks-of-bone-conduction-headphones-revealed-safeguarding-your-hearing-health
The Hidden Risks of Bone Conduction Headphones Revealed: Safeguarding Your Hearing Health | Soundtrace - Digital Hearing Conservation Program
Cory Portnuff and Elliott Berger's seminal piece, "The Truth about Bone-Conduction Earphones" (The Hearing Journal, 65(6):p 4, June 2012, DOI: 10.1097/01.HJ.0000415192.03538.d6), delves deep into this matter. Contrary to popular belief, bone conduction headphones are not immune to causing harm to our cochlea, the delicate auditory organ responsible for translating sound into neural signals.
Soundcore
soundcore.com › home › blog center › headphones blog › are bone-conduction headphones safe? what you need to know
Are Bone-Conduction Headphones Safe? Unveiling the Truth
September 9, 2025 - The most notable side effect is the sensation of vibration directly on the skull. For many, this experience can be a bit unusual, especially when the volume is cranked up, leading to pronounced vibrations.
Tinnitus Talk
tinnitustalk.com › forums › support
A Cautionary Tale Regarding Bone Conduction Headphones (Aftershokz OpenComm) | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
March 2, 2025 - I would recommend staying away from the Opencomm headphones as they are apparently capable of going loud enough to permanently damage your hearing, even if only worn for half a second. ... This is good to know. I've been considering trying bone conduction headphones for a while now but never ...
Nagish
nagish.com › post › are-bone-conduction-headphones-safe
Bone Conduction Headphones: Everything You Need to Know
July 5, 2025 - It’s important to note that for ... to enter your ear canal. The most common side effect is some people's discomfort with the vibrating sensation directly on the skull....
Sanag Shop
sanagshop.com › blogs › blog › what-are-the-side-effects-of-bone-conduction-headphones
What are the side effects of bone conduction headphones? – Sanag Shop
June 3, 2024 - Bone conduction headphones, like any wearable device, may lead to skin irritation, especially in sweaty conditions or with prolonged use. This effect can be heightened for those with sensitive skin or allergies to materials used in the headphones.
Soundcore
soundcore.com › home › blog center › headphones blog › sound pressure: can bone conduction headphones cause headaches?
Can Bone Conduction Headphones Cause Headaches? Answers Here
August 27, 2024 - Our exploration reveals that while bone conduction headphones offer an innovative approach to personal audio, they are not without their drawbacks, particularly when it comes to the potential for causing headaches. By adopting the preventive measures discussed, such as ensuring a proper fit, adjusting the volume, controlling usage time, and opting for alternative open-ear headphones, you can effectively mitigate the risk of headaches.
Soundly
soundly.com › blog › shokz-bone-conduction-headphones-review
An Audiologist's Review of Shokz Bone Conduction Headphones
Hidden trails, on the other hand, are the perfect spot where you can enjoy this effect. Safety is one of the most important factors when purchasing any type of headphones. Shokz bone conduction headphones claim to be safe for your ears and improve situational awareness.
Drip-Fly
drip-fly.com.au › home › what are the side effects of bone conduction headphones?
What Are the Side Effects of Bone Conduction Headphones? – Drip-Fly
July 9, 2025 - For people who require situational ... Users need to be mindful of the possible negative effects, though, like headaches, discomfort, and audio limitations....
Soundly
soundly.com › blog › bone-conduction-headphones-safety
Are Bone Conduction Headphones Safe?
This is the concept behind bone conduction technology, and it's a type of audio transmission that uses transducers to transmit sound waves directly through the bones of the head, bypassing the outer and middle ears. This means that with bone-conduction headphones, you can enjoy music without blocking off your ears or covering them up.
NYTimes
nytimes.com › electronics › audio › the best bone-conduction and open-ear headphones
The 5 Best Bone-Conduction and Open-Ear Headphones of 2025 | Reviews by Wirecutter
August 25, 2025 - The Tri 2 comes with a hard-sided carrying case and charges via a proprietary cable. Hannah Schwob for NYT Wirecutter · The speaker units are held in place by a flexible headband with a hook-over-the-ear design. It’s secure enough for you to do flip turns when swimming laps. Hannah Schwob for NYT Wirecutter · The design feels robust, with fewer points that seem vulnerable to breakage. Chlorine and salt water can gradually wear down materials. Other bone-conduction designs we tested had thinner connection points where the headband met the earpieces, which can be weakened through exposure and repeated use; we’ve gotten reader feedback that these spots can wear down and snap.
Shokz
shokz.com › home
Bone Conduction Headphones: Technical Challenges and Benefits
September 19, 2024 - There are four common problems that people ascribe to bone conduction headphones: sound quality, particularly with bass frequencies; vibrational discomfort during prolonged usage; short battery life; and sound leakage.
NG EarSafe
ngearsafe.com › blogs › open-ear-headphones › are-bone-conduction-headphones-safe
Bone Conduction Headphones Safety: Benefits and Risks Explained
They don't cancel ambient noise, making them less effective in crowded or high-noise areas. Some models are. Many sports-oriented models are IP55 or higher-rated for sweat and rain resistance. Always check the specification. Yes. Most are designed to fit alongside glasses, though comfort levels may vary by model and frame size. PubMed Central – Study on Sound Pressure and Safety of Bone Conduction Headphones...
Published October 31, 2025
Quora
quora.com › Are-there-any-potential-long-term-health-risks-associated-with-wearing-in-ear-headphones-such-as-deafness-or-hearing-impairment
Are there any potential long-term health risks associated with wearing in-ear headphones, such as deafness or hearing impairment? - Quora
Answer: The risks associated with headphone use have to do with the volume of the sound you are listening to. If you listen to the sound at a normal conversational level, it is not loud enough to damage your hearing. However, once it hits 85dB, it can start to damage your hearing if you listen t...
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I wrote about this exact thing in a review of the AfterShokz headphones on my blog. But here's the general idea...
The wording of the AfterShokz marketing material is very clever (from this page). They say:
Scientific studies have found that extended use of regular headphones and earbuds promote hearing loss and damage to the eardrum. Since AfterShokz headphones do not use the eardrums to transmit sound, they provide consumers with a quality stereophonic listening experience while reducing the risk of eardrum damage.
So their wording claims that earbuds promote hearing loss AND damage to the eardrum. The second thing they say is that AfterShokz reduces the risk of eardrum damage. Nowhere do they claim that it reduces the risk of hearing damage!
This web page by the National Institues of Health, has this to say about noise-induced hearing loss:
However, when we are exposed to harmful noise—sounds that are too loud or loud sounds that last a long time—sensitive structures in our inner ear can be damaged, causing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). These sensitive structures, called hair cells, are small sensory cells that convert sound energy into electrical signals that travel to the brain. Once damaged, our hair cells cannot grow back.
And this:
Exposure to harmful sounds causes damage to the hair cells as well as the auditory, or hearing, nerve.
Nowhere on that page does it say anything about eardrums or any connection between eardrum damage and hearing loss.
The conclusions that I take from this are:
- I ASSUME that damage to the eardrum is mostly from the "stick it in your ear canal" type of earbuds. From physical contact and not from high volume levels from the earbuds. I have absolutely nothing backing this up, except that it fits the rest of what I'm saying.
- IF #1 is correct then the AfterShokz marketing material is 100% correct (but misleading).
- The NIH says that hearing loss is caused from nerve damage or damage to the hair cells in your ear. Since both of these are still used by the AfterShokz headphones (otherwise you wouldn't hear anything), it is unlikely that these headphones will prevent hearing loss due to high volume levels.
- Turning down the volume is still the best way to prevent hearing loss.
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From a letter to the editors of Hearing Journal:
The description of the Aftershokz bone-conduction earphones included the statement, “Because the headphones do not use the eardrums to transmit sound, they allow users to listen to music without risk of eardrum damage.” MP3 player earphones are not capable of producing levels great enough to cause an eardrum perforation, so users would not be at risk of eardrum damage from any type of earphone. Rather, listeners are at risk of cochlear damage from overuse of any type of earphone. The fact that these earphones use bone-conduction transducers does not inherently make them any safer than any other earphone, as bone-conducted sound is transduced by the cochlea similarly to air-conducted sound.
Hearing Journal: June 2012 - Volume 65 - Issue 6 - p 4 doi: 10.1097/01.HJ.0000415192.03538.d6 Departments: Letters to the Editor
"Letters: The Truth about Bone-Conduction Earphones" Portnuff, Cory AuD, PhD; Berger, Elliott MS
PubMed Central
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › articles › PMC10126703
Hearing Through Bone Conduction Headsets - PMC
The difference in ear canal sound ... side. The vertical bars indicate ± 1SD and are slightly shifted for visibility. AC: air conduction; BC: bone conduction. As already explained, masking of the nontest ear in BC threshold testing can elevate the hearing thresholds due to central masking, which is not observed in AC testing. Surendran and Stenfelt (2022) previously assumed that this effect could range ...
Vocal Media
vocal.media › lifehack › do-bone-conduction-headphones-have-health-risk-and-best-headphones-with-few-side-effect
Do Bone Conduction Headphones Have Health Risk and Best Headphones With Few Side Effect? | Lifehack
Fact about side effect of bone conduction headphones,Their working principle determines that they have no health risk.Best headphones with few side effect in 2023
PubMed
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › 31749056
Adverse events associated with bone-conduction and middle-ear implants: a systematic review - PubMed
Data analyzed in this review show that: (1) the reporting quality of adverse events associated with BCHI and aMEIs is often very low; (2) adverse events associated with BCHI and aMEIs are qualitatively different and not equally frequent among ...
Shokz
uk.shokz.com › blogs › guides › how-safe-are-bone-conduction-headphones
Are Bone Conduction Headphones Safe?
March 8, 2024 - Discover how bone conduction headphones work and whether they’re safe for your hearing. Learn the real facts, common myths, and how they compare to traditional headphones.