Audiologists say the “earbuds” generally used with iPod and MP3 players increase hearing loss risks. Turn ‘em down and turn ‘em off. That’s the advice of audiologists when it comes to using those ever-present earbuds favored by iPod and MP3 music listeners everywhere.
In the 1980s, audiologists began cautioning lovers of loud music about hearing loss that could potentially result from use of their Walkman or portable compact disc (CD) players when those devices were on the cutting edge of music listening. With iPods, the hot gift for music lovers of all ages, safer use of the popular devices is encouraged.
We’re seeing the kind of hearing loss in younger people typically found in aging adults. Unfortunately, the earbuds preferred by music listeners are even more likely to cause hearing loss than the muff-type earphones that were associated with the older devices.
Since earbuds are placed directly into the ear, they boost the sound signal to two times to four times as loud. Today’s music listening devices – with longer battery life and capacity to hold and conveniently play lots of music – encourage users to listen for longer periods of time. That, too, increases the potential for hearing damage.
The music is often at a sound level equivalent to rock concerts, enough to cause hearing loss after only about an hour and 15 minutes.
The solution is the 60 percent/60 minute rule. Use them only an hour a day and at levels below 60 percent of maximum volume.
If listeners are willing to turn the volume down further and use different headphones, they can increase the amount of time that they can safely listen.
To avoid sustaining permanent hearing loss – use of the older style, larger headphones that rest over the ear opening helps. Or, noise-canceling headphones, which quiet or eliminate background noise, reduce the need to crank up the volume so high as to damage their hearing. The problem is noise-canceling headphones are more costly and more visible than the tiny earbuds. For image-conscious teenagers and adults, they may be a hard sell.
For more information about hearing loss or available hearing aid technologies, please contact Nola Aronson, M.A., Patrice Rifkind, Au.D., Ginny Newman, Au.D., or Nina Ball, M.S. of Audiology Associates at 661-288-1400.