Airpods And Headache/Ear Pain

[reasonrulaz]

I'm also experienced ear pain & headache with airpods unfortunately.

I'm used bt headphones at least for 10 years. But none of them cause anything like headache or ear pain.

When i'm use airpods first, i felt slightly pressure and kind of "tension" in my ear. Then, that feelings transform to pain. I thought it's about shape and solid plastics traumatic effect on my ear canal. But after two weeks of usage i believe now its not related with physical properties...

After daily usage for two weeks with AirPods, nearly 1 of 2 attempt end with ear pain.. Yesterday night, i tried to connect airpod to my mac. Slide down speaker icon and select airpods (R) for sound output. Suddenly i felt sharp and intense pain on my right ear. And i'm done with airpods.

I'm really BT mania. I love BT tech and i own every type of device with bt. My house full of wireless signal with wifi and bt devices. But this is the first time with airpods i'm wory about my health. I'm also try to convince myself to use airpods with reading a lot of things like " EMF not effect on human bodies, 2.4 ghz is everywhere. etc.." But i'm not hypocondriac, or OCD about wellness. I'm definitely feel SOMETHING WRONG with Airpods.

So, it will returns tomorrow. I'm really sorry, because everything else beside that i love it.

** Sorry for my English.

 

[Neo1975]

I've decided to auction mine off before even openen them due to concerns with the TX power level these things use. I use Bluetooth devices, including headphones, all the time and I'm not worried the least bit about those - but these things use BT class 2 or 3, which means the transmit power is at 10 or 1mw max respectively - which is, indeed, very low and almost not measurable on SAR measuring devices.

However, Apple in their infinite wisdom have decided to make the W1 chip that's in the Airpods (and some Beats cans) a Bluetooth class 1 device. Class 1 devices can transmit at up to 100mw - so the Airpods potentially output an EM field that's up to 100x stronger than that of a regular bluetooth headset. To put this into perspective: 100mw is what a WiFi access point uses - and nobody in his right mind would put one of these on each side of the head for hours a day. A regular phone on the LTE network transmits at 125mw - not much difference there, either.

I fail to see the reasoning behind this move - nobody needs bluetooth earbuds that have a range of close to 70 meters. Apple also doesn't give us RF exposure info and guidlines for the Airpods, which is weird, as every other device all the way down to the Apple Watch is listed on their RF page.

According to the FCC filing for the Airpods (https://fccid.io/document.php?id=3118442), the SAR rating for these is 0.466 - which is nearly double that of, say, a Google Pixel XL phone.

I buy bluetooth headsets to lower the RF exposure I get from my phone for crying out loud, not to increase it.

Anyway, I believe that would explain the headaches some people seem to get from them.

This is all such nonsense. How many pairs of Airpods have Apple sold ? How many people have convinced themselves they are harmful.

 

[Olivia23]

Wow this thread kind of crazy. All those returning the apple AirPods, do you plan on replacing them with other Bluetooth headphones? If so is that not the same as the AirPods?

 

[eclipse01]

So getting back on topic, I experience this as well, does it go away after a few weeks of getting used to?

 

[CMoore515]

So getting back on topic, I experience this as well, does it go away after a few weeks of getting used to?

I haven't experienced this since the first couple weeks.

 

[kis]

So getting back on topic, I experience this as well, does it go away after a few weeks of getting used to?

If you still have that after weeks of usage, I'd go with a lower lower model to be honest. I've since stopped using mine. Constant headache. I don't for the life of me know why Apple thinks it's a good idea to put 100mw transmitters in headphones when Bose can do with 2.5mw.

 

[Perene]

Anyone that had issues with these Airpods can please tell how much do you use them?

I mean, do you use for 6, 8 hours every day or 2 hours in a day, 3 hours in another RANDOM moment?

To quantify how much you are using is important, because I have two iPAD Pros 9.7 here with two EarPods, and I can switch between them (my Airpods are on the way, bought recently), and haven't been using any headphone for hours a day like I used to, in the past.

Also, for the user that posted "How many pairs of Airpods have Apple sold", apparently not that many despite the hype, since after 6 months it's still a little hard to get one.

And the reason for that is either the scarcity principle or because they have some issue with manufacturing, which I don't believe to be the reason AT ALL. Or, you may want to add all that was said in this thread to justify why we still need to wait 6 weeks to get one.

Anyway, please don't forget that this has not been complained about the Airpods only:

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Other...uetooth-causes-headaches-migraines/td-p/26263

What needs to be asked is this: isn't all these symptoms only more noticeable depending on the person who experiences them?

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6572624?tstart=0

Look at this post:

Yes, I have the same issues. It stems from being extra sensitive to radiation and it is called electromagnetic sensitivity. It affects our nervous system so it ends up causing a host of symptoms. It is a known and accepted disorder in many parts of Europe and is even a government recognized disability in Sweden -- although it is not well known in the States. After a lot of research, I can tell you that the best solution is to limit exposure to cell phone, wifi, cordless phones and even electronics with high wattage.

Those who don't suffer from this seem to get smug about those who are sensitive to radiation -- doubting claims of pain and suffering. It's important to listen to your own body and if it hurts every time you turn on your bluetooth or make a call -- then it doesn't matter what others say. Wifi and cellular technology and bluetooth are all around us -- but you will always feel better or worse depending on the following factors: 1) strength of exposure 2) amount of time of exposure 3) your body's "defenses" -- dependent on sleep, stress, nutrition, fitness/overall health. For example, if you are exhausted and haven't been eating well, then (based on my experience) you will feel the effects of the radiation stronger.

Check out Electromagnetic Sensitivity forums for lots more information -- there are hundreds of thousands of people going through the exact same symptoms (and trouble "proving" it to doubters.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_hypersensitivity

http://www.livescience.com/52978-electromagnetic-hypersensitivity-cause-unclear.html

http://www.science20.com/florilegium/what_are_symptoms_electromagnetic_hypersensitivity

http://www.newsweek.com/2016/07/08/electromagnetic-hypersensitivity-wifi-allergies-474404.html

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-apple-airpod-safety-20160907-snap-story.html

 

[scrumpyjack]

The hypochondriac in me worries that it might be the radiation, but after seeing a lot of the research that's been done saying that cellphones are safe (compared to the few studies that say it MIGHT not be safe), I figure Bluetooth is even safer.

Lol dude if there is any significant radiation (which there probably isn't) you're not going to get symptoms after one afternoon's use. The most likely scenario is that they're too loud or it isn't even related to the earphones.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I find the airpods even more comfortable than the EarPods. I've never had any pain from using them and this can be for a couple of hours at a stretch.

 

[Perene]

Received mine today. While my first impression is not conclusive, I must say I felt a little overwhelmed in the first minutes. So perhaps prolonged use can cause what was explained in this thread. I'll do more comprehensive tests later.

 

[gumbymac72]

I've had a pair of AirPods for about two weeks. They do seem pretty magical. I love how easy it was to pair them and how they stop playing when I take one or both out of my ears. Charging is super simple. However, I don't think I'll be wearing them again. Last week when I was at work listening to them, the right side of my face went numb all of sudden. I immediately did the stroke tests and then called my doctor. They told me to go to the ER and I did. They did all of the stroke tests too and put me through a battery of tests (MRI, ECHO, EKG, CAT scan, Ultrasound), all of which were clear. I didn't think about it until the next day, but I was wearing my Airpods at the time. After looking up their specs, I was surprised to see how much power they radiated, 100mW. That's like a Wifi access point. Having one in each side of my head and a magnetic field passing through my head between them so they can talk does not seem like such a good idea anymore.

 

[Perene]

I didn't think about it until the next day, but I was wearing my Airpods at the time. After looking up their specs, I was surprised to see how much power they radiated, 100mW. That's like a Wifi access point. Having one in each side of my head and a magnetic field passing through my head between them so they can talk does not seem like such a good idea anymore.

There is no correlation between using these Airpods and what happened to you. It's anecdotal evidence.

http://facialhealth.org/causes-of-numbness-in-face/

As you can see, there are many reasons that can explain what happened. And I recommend getting a 2nd opinion, don't just go to one doctor and think that his is the final opinion on the matter.

The fact that you were using the Airpods at the time might have nothing to do with it. It could be just a coincidence (these can happen...).

I agree we can't dismiss all that has been said about this subject, still you have missed the fact the Airpods aren't the only product causing this:
https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Other...uetooth-causes-headaches-migraines/td-p/26263
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?125757-Headache-from-Bluetooth-Headset

And as I said earlier, this is due to some people being more sensitive than others. Always remember the Airpods aren't the first case EVER REPORTED of all these symptoms.

Well, if this isn't the 1st time a customer complains about it, why are we still pretending it is?

 

[iMacDragon]

After looking up their specs, I was surprised to see how much power they radiated, 100mW. That's like a Wifi access point. Having one in each side of my head and a magnetic field passing through my head between them so they can talk does not seem like such a good idea anymore.

They do not radiate 100mW, they can potentially at maximum, but if they were constantly radiating 100mW the battery life would be well under an hour based on radio only, they only have a 93mWh battery inside! And they're only radiating significantly when on a call, anyway. When just listening to audio they're mostly receiving and only broadcasting battery level and 'button presses' infrequently, not a constant high power signal.

 

[kis]

They do not radiate 100mW, they can potentially at maximum, but if they were constantly radiating 100mW the battery life would be well under an hour based on radio only, they only have a 93mWh battery inside! And they're only radiating significantly when on a call, anyway. When just listening to audio they're mostly receiving and only broadcasting battery level and 'button presses' infrequently, not a constant high power signal.

I can't say how much they really output but it's not true that they merely receive during music playback. Every digital package they receive is acknowledged. As a consequence, they constantly transmit no matter the type of data.

Anyway, I wish Apple would publish RF exposure data for the AirPods (as they do for every other RF device they sell).

 

[apples2apples]

https://www.apple.com/legal/rfexposure/

The absence of the AirPods in that list is certainly disconcerting.

The only reason I found this tread is b/c I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING STRANGE HEADACHES in the last couple of days since I got them - which is not the norm for me as I get 2 or 3 headaches a year (Seriously, it is not a common thing for me).

Like most of us here, I am indeed an Apple fan, so I hope I'm not coming across as some sort of alarmist troll or the like.

With that said, I'm open to suggestions as to how we can get Apple to post AirPods' RF Exposure info on their website.

I will miss the convenience of my AirPods for a week, but if these headaches go away AND upon starting using them again these headaches come back, I WILL RETURN THEM TO THE APPLE STORE: WITH VIOLENCE.

I do not intend to start s**t here, but if they are messing with our health with this much cynicism and disregard, I def will start some s**t even if mall security gets pissed.

 

[matrix07]

Meh,.. AirPods isn't any different than all Bluetooth headphones out there: Beats, Bose, Bragi, Samsung etc.. and we have them for very long now.

This conspiracy theory is laughable.

 

[sshambles]

I've had mine for about 10 weeks now. For about the last fortnight I've had a permanent ringing in the left side of my ear/head and I can't get rid of it. Going to cease all use to see if that stops it and then see a doctor if it doesn't.

I want to use this product, I love it, but this ringing is not a permanent thing I should have to tolerate.

 

[Reno Raines]

i just got mine this afternoon, and I'm curious if anyone else is getting a slight headache/ear pain? I probably used them for an hour at a very low volume, and I noticed right away I was starting to get a slight headache. I took them off for a few hours to see if my headache would go away, and it eventually did. I tried using them again, and I could feel after a few minutes my ears getting sore.

I'm hoping this is just an issue with the Airpods being just a little bigger or heavier than what I'm used to, and not me having an issue with Bluetooth devices in general.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

I have had the same issue but with the wired ear pods that come with your phone. My ears are just not designed for them. I have to use soft in ear earphones.

 

[jcmoney10]

https://www.apple.com/legal/rfexposure/

The absence of the AirPods in that list is certainly disconcerting.

The only reason I found this tread is b/c I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING STRANGE HEADACHES in the last couple of days since I got them - which is not the norm for me as I get 2 or 3 headaches a year (Seriously, it is not a common thing for me).

Like most of us here, I am indeed an Apple fan, so I hope I'm not coming across as some sort of alarmist troll or the like.

With that said, I'm open to suggestions as to how we can get Apple to post AirPods' RF Exposure info on their website.

I will miss the convenience of my AirPods for a week, but if these headaches go away AND upon starting using them again these headaches come back, I WILL RETURN THEM TO THE APPLE STORE: WITH VIOLENCE.

I do not intend to start s**t here, but if they are messing with our health with this much cynicism and disregard, I def will start some s**t even if mall security gets pissed.

After I started feeling these effects, I started doing way more research than I care to admit lol. My take is this.. the headaches are less "your brain being cooked" and more the fact that the AirPods create too tight a seal in the ear and pressure isn't able to escape.

With that being said, I do think there is a possible long term health concern here. Not just with AirPods, but all of the new Bluetooth headphones. Very few studies have actually been done on the effects That radiation from Bluetooth can have on the body because as a whole, science is more concerned with cellphones, and they figure if cellphones are deemed safe, then the much lower powered Bluetooth devices are too. This logic isn't wrong, but the way we use the two types of devices are much different.

Most studies show that for the average user, cellphones are harmless. That the amount of radiation emitted from a cellphone is so low, that it can't effect your brain or cause cancer. Whether that is true or not is still up for debate amongst many research circles. What has started to become increasingly consistent is researchers finding a statistical increase in brain tumor rates and people who have been heavy cellphone users for more than 10 years. Many if not most of the new studies that I have read have all suggested this increase in tumor rates among heavy 10+ year users.

With all that in mind, let's consider Bluetooth headphones. A device that results in you using one in each ear for hours and hours a day. By design they are meant for people to wear all the time. Hours at work, while working out, your commute home, you name it and people listen to music while doing it. While it might give off less radiation than a cellphone, at what point does the cumulative expose reach the same amount r exceeded it? As Bluetooth headphones become more common place, we will eventually live in a world where its the only way to listen to music(outside of the obvious "without headphones" way), and I'm not sure yet whether we know enough about the technology to deem that a smart decision.

 

[apples2apples]

Meh,.. AirPods isn't any different than all Bluetooth headphones out there: Beats, Bose, Bragi, Samsung etc.. and we have them for very long now.

This conspiracy theory is laughable.

What's "laughable" about it? I LOVE tech. I use tech and my business is in tech. I am definitely not one of those conspiracy theorists and I'm really trying to get that across!

I have been using cellphones forever and have NEVER complained or even believed in those clowns saying that cellphones or RF will for sure give cancer. I dont.

I know that you don't have the AirPods. I don't mean that in a demeaning manner, but it pains me to see someone bash on other people's ACTUAL experience by someone who is merely speculating.

I own the Watch, the 2016 MBP, iPad Pro, AppleTV....the freakin Pencil! so this is NOT a conspiracy theory. It is quite the opposite. I WAS EXCITED TO GET THE AIRPODS AND IT PAINS ME (NO PUN UNTENDED) THAT I HAVE TO GO BACK TO MY WIRED BOSEs BECUASE THE AIRPODS GIVE ME VERY WIERD HEADACHES.

 

[matrix07]

I know that you don't have the AirPods. I don't mean that in a demeaning manner, but it pains me to see someone bash on other people's ACTUAL experience by someone who is merely speculating.

Except for the fact that I actually own one since June 20th, and Bose QC35 for a year before that, so you know nothing John Snow.



"If there is such an issue it wouldn't be on our website" Tim Cook publicly answered the question whether AirPods could have an effect on users.

 

[jcmoney10]

"If there is such an issue it wouldn't be on our website" Tim Cook publicly answered the question whether AirPods could have an effect on users.

I have no doubt Tim Cook would say this, not because I believe he's got some secret agenda or because he doesn't care about peoples health, but rather because the AirPods passed all government mandated testing. As long as Tim and Apple play by the rules, then he has no reason to believe otherwise, the issue is whether or not the government regulations are safe enough.

Just like previous poster, I am by no means a conspiracy theorist...I own just about every Apple product you can think of and have a house full of smart devices. What I am is someone who doesn't blindly take things at face value just because the government, big business, or the internet says it's ok. The technology that make these AirPods, bluetooth and cellular devices work are very complex and studies are mixed as to whether they are truly safe or not.

My opinion, the pain has more to do with fit rather than radiation, but the long term cumulative radiation is potentially hazardous. If you're just going to use these a couple times a month for an hour or two, then you probably have nothing to be concerned about. if you are like me and would use these for 6-7 hours a day, multiple days a week, then you may have some issue for some concern. If you don't believe me, then I will be glad to link you to more than one study showing a statistical increase related to heavy exposure.

 

[matrix07]

My opinion, the pain has more to do with fit rather than radiation, but the long term cumulative radiation is potentially hazardous. If you're just going to use these a couple times a month for an hour or two, then you probably have nothing to be concerned about. if you are like me and would use these for 6-7 hours a day, multiple days a week, then you may have some issue for some concern. If you don't believe me, then I will be glad to link you to more than one study showing a statistical increase related to heavy exposure.

I lose track of how many years Bluetooth headphone has been introduced, only know my close friend, who is a music junkie, has Powerbeat for more than 2 years now and it rarely out of his ears apart from charging. I have never heard he complained once.
Sometimes it's what people fear that counts. There's many papers online about this psychological effect. People who's afraid of ghost always see ghost, people who's afraid of cancer always think they got cancer etc...
There may be a rare phenomenon people's actually affected by AirPods but I doubt the seriousness of it. I'm open minded of course but until I see a concrete evidence...

 

[jcmoney10]

There's many papers online about this psychological effect. People who's afraid of ghost always see ghost, people who's afraid of cancer always think they got cancer etc...

Again as I mentioned in my last two posts, I don't believe the headaches are a product of Bluetooth. My concerns are with the long term effects that this new product line will have on guys like your friend. I'm not saying I have the answer or that this absolutely will kill you, but I would like for some more research to be done. Most the accepted research is old and wasn't able to account for long term usage, and most the new research is contradictory. Finding good unbiased (in either direction) research is hard to come by when dealing with something so common place.

 

[matrix07]

Again as I mentioned in my last two posts, I don't believe the headaches are a product of Bluetooth. My concerns are with the long term effects that this new product line will have on guys like your friend. I'm not saying I have the answer or that this absolutely will kill you, but I would like for some more research to be done. Most the accepted research is old and wasn't able to account for long term usage, and most the new research is contradictory. Finding good unbiased (in either direction) research is hard to come by when dealing with something so common place.

This I agree completely.