New Delhi, Dec. 26 -- Earbuds are now part of our daily lives. We use them for everything from work calls to gym sessions. They are convenient for all ages, but using them for too long or at too loud a volume can damage your health. Often, you won't realise there is a problem until the damage is permanent.

Dr Mayur Ingale, Head of ENT at DPU Super Speciality Hospital, warns that constant loud audio causes "wear and tear" on the inner ear. "The impact is not always immediate," says Dr Ingale. "Small daily decisions to listen at high volume or wear earbuds for hours at a stretch and without pause can build up over months or years and result in chronic problems with the ears."

The biggest danger associated with earbuds is noise-induced hea...