"There is no scientific evidence that noise-cancelling headphones cause auditory processing disorder (APD). Nor is there any robust data showing a rise in the condition. But Almeida believes the question warrants attention. “Studies definitely need to be done,” she says. “The research should focus on the effects of extended use, especially in young people.”
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/feb/22/filter-trouble-why-audiologists-worry-noise-cancelling-headphones-may-impair-hearing-skills