What are the side effects of noise cancellation?

A few listeners have reported feelings of dizziness and disorientation when using noise canceling headphones—our very own Lily Katz included. In some cases, headaches and nausea are also present—but in most cases it's due to something else being triggered by the ANC, not the other way around.



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Current research on the actual extent of hearing protection offered by noise-canceling headphones is limited. While noise-canceling technology can effectively reduce the perception of external sounds, it does not necessarily eliminate the potential for hearing damage.

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You may notice a pressure-like feeling in your ears when you first put noise-cancelling headphones on, like when you want to 'pop' your ears. This is caused by your brain perceiving the lack of low-frequency sound as a pressure differential between your inner and outer ear, just like when you ascend in an airplane.

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