NTT Sonority Warns of 'Ear Warming' Risks From Summer Earphone Use
The campaign uses medical authority to promote open-ear earphones as a solution to a health issue the brand itself has defined.
Reporting from 1 sources: ASCII.jp.
NTT Sonority's nwm brand held a roundtable with an ENT doctor warning about 'ear warming'-ear canal overheating from closed earphones in summer. A survey of 639 daily users found 59.4% feel discomfort, but only 14.9% consciously care for ears. The doctor explained risks of ear fungus and otitis externa, and recommended open-ear earphones. Generational differences in risk behavior were identified.
A thermography experiment conducted by NTT Sonority showed that closed earphones raise ear temperature by about 1.8°C after one hour of wear. The company's nwm brand held a roundtable on June 17 with ENT specialist Toshihiko Oba, who warned that the combination of heat, humidity, and closed earphones creates a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Oba noted that no direct medicine exists for the itching caused by ear fungus, making prevention the only practical approach. The survey of 639 daily earphone users revealed that while 59.4% experience summer discomfort, 57.7% have left it untreated. Generational patterns emerged: Z-gen users show risky habits, working adults neglect chronic discomfort, and older users have low awareness and slower recovery. NTT Sonority recommends open-ear earphones as a summer solution, alongside six prevention tips including limiting ear cleaning and taking breaks every hour.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.