[nwm (Nuom) Summer Earphone Use and Ear Trouble Reality Survey 2026] Beware of 'Ear Warming' This Summer Amid Forecasted Extreme Heat! Nearly 60% Report Discomfort from Summer Earphone Use. Up to 3x Difference in Ear Temperature Rise Between Closed and Open-Ear Types.

nwm (Nuom), the first audio brand of the NTT Group that promotes 'co-existence (Co-being)' rather than immersion, launched by NTT Sonority Corporation (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Koichi Takami, hereinafter 'NTT Sonority'), has conducted the '2026 Survey on Summer Earphone Use and Ear Troubles' targeting 639 men and women nationwide. This initiative aims to reveal how the intensifying heatwave—marked by the Japan Meteorological Agency's April 2026 announcement of a new category, 'Kokushobi' (extreme heat days), defined as days with temperatures reaching or exceeding 40°C—is also affecting the human ear.

Last year's rising concern over 'ear fungus' is rooted in the hot and humid environment inside the ear canal. With consecutive heatwave and extreme heat days becoming more common, prolonged use of closed-type earphones and headphones is exacerbating a phenomenon known as 'ear warming,' which is emerging as a precursor to ear troubles such as ear fungus. This survey reveals not only summer usage patterns of earphones and headphones but also significant generational differences in the nature of ear trouble risks.

Additionally, results from a thermographic demonstration experiment visualizing temperature increases around the ear due to earphone and headphone use are also released. A comparison focusing on the structural differences between closed-type and open-ear designs revealed a clear difference in temperature rise trends, confirming that heat retention varies significantly between types.

'Report on the 2026 Survey on Summer Earphone Use and Ear Troubles'

<Survey Summary>

Over 40% use earphones or headphones at least three days a week. About half use them for over one hour per day.

Long-term use exceeding three hours accounts for 19.0%. Daily use reaches 48.9% among Gen Z, approximately 2.5 times higher than among Young Senior Generation (19.3%). Usage patterns differ significantly by generation.

Primary usage scenarios are 'at home' and 'during commuting.' Over 70% have experienced 'unprotected use'.

Nearly 60% experience discomfort from using earphones or headphones in summer.

Ear discomfort occurs across all scenarios, including during telework and exercise.

Summer ear discomfort symptoms: over 40% report 'itching/tickling' and 'stuffy, sweaty sensation'.

Nearly half are aware of ear discomfort, but most rely on self-treatment.

57.7% have experienced ignoring discomfort. The most common response is cleaning with cotton swabs or ear picks (29.7%), while only 9.1% sought medical consultation.

Over 90% feel increased physical strain in summer, yet only slightly over 10% consciously care for their ears. Ears are truly the 'blind spot of summer care'.

Only slightly over 10% correctly understand 'ear fungus (otomycosis)'. Among the Young Senior Generation, awareness drops to 3.3%, extremely low.

Three distinct types of ear trouble risks emerge by generation.

Gen Z: Unprotected overuse / Working Generation: Delayed care due to busyness / Young Senior Generation: Neglect due to lack of knowledge.

<Survey Overview>

Survey Name: 2026 Survey on Summer Earphone Use and Ear Troubles

Target: 639 men and women nationwide who own and regularly use earphones

Period: May 22 (Fri) – May 31 (Sun), 2026

Method: Online survey

Valid Responses: Preliminary survey: 8,663 samples; Main survey: 639 samples

Generational Breakdown:

· Gen Z: 15–24 years old, Valid Samples: 123

· Working Generation: 25–49 years old, Valid Samples: 301

· Young Senior Generation: 50–69 years old, Valid Samples: 215

* When publishing, please credit: nwm (Nuom) '2026 Survey on Summer Earphone Use and Ear Troubles', conducted by NTT Sonority.

* Due to rounding to the second decimal place, totals may not always equal 100%.

<Detailed Survey Results>

Over 40% use earphones or headphones at least three days a week. About half use them for over one hour per day.

In a preliminary survey of 8,663 people nationwide, 27.7% reported 'daily use' and 15.7% '3–4 days per week', totaling over 40% using earphones or headphones at least three days a week. By age group, 48.9% of Gen Z answered 'daily use', revealing significant differences in usage frequency by age.

Furthermore, 54.2% use them for over one hour per day, and long-term use exceeding three hours reaches nearly 20%. Beyond video and music consumption, earphones are becoming essential infrastructure in daily life, used for remote work and navigation.

Primary usage scenarios are 'at home' and 'during commuting.' Over 70% have experienced 'unprotected use'.

Usage scenarios are primarily 'relaxing at home, watching videos/music' (47.3%) and 'commuting to work/school' (43.7%), extending to 'telework/online meetings' (26.8%) and 'exercise/sports' (25.5%), covering various aspects of daily life.

However, usage habits are often unprotected: 74.5% (excluding 25.5% who answered 'none') have experienced some form of risky behavior. Top responses include 'wearing for long periods without removal' (44.0%), 'falling asleep while wearing' (30.8%), 'rarely cleaning' (20.5%), and 'sharing one earbud with a friend' (16.7%).

Moreover, 42.1% answered 'often' or 'sometimes' to the question, 'Do you use earphones immediately after swimming, sports, or bathing?' Among Gen Z and the working generation, this reaches nearly half (Gen Z: 52.9%, Working Generation: 52.8%). A habit of sealing moisture-trapped ears with closed-type earphones has emerged.

Nearly 60% experience discomfort from summer earphone/headphone use. Ear discomfort occurs across all scenarios, including telework and exercise.

Regarding 'Have you ever felt discomfort from sweat or moisture while wearing earphones/headphones in summer?', 59.4% answered 'yes'.

Ear discomfort occurs across all aspects of life. 39.3% experienced it during telework/online meetings, and 42.4% during or after exercise. Particularly among the working generation, rates are high: 49.8% during telework/meetings and 55.9% during exercise, indicating that prolonged use in situations where removal isn't possible directly causes ear discomfort. Ear discomfort is no longer just 'summer-specific' but a 'scenario-independent' risk.

Summer ear discomfort symptoms: 'itching/tickling' and 'stuffy, sweaty sensation' each exceed 40%. Nearly half are aware of ear discomfort, but self-treatment dominates.

Among those who felt ear discomfort in summer, 'itching/tickling sensation' (45.4%) and 'stuffy, sweaty sensation (ear feels hot)' (44.5%) were most common. Others include 'unpleasant odor' (22.3%), 'ear pain/pressure' (21.7%), 'increased earwax' (17.2%), and 'ear fullness (aural fullness)' (15.1%). Itching and heat are signs of a hot, humid ear canal, which could progress to external otitis if ignored.

When symptoms occur, the most common response is 'cleaning inside the ear with cotton swabs or ear picks' (29.7%), followed by 'doing nothing (ignoring it)'.