February 17, 2006

I read an article recently on the Mayo Clinic web site recently about how iPods and other MP3 players can cause significant hearing loss. 

My dad wears hearing aids, and had his hearing damaged because he spent his days in a noisy telephone switchroom.  It took years, but the noise finally hurt his hearing.

With the proliferation of MP3 players, I wonder how many people actually know they're potentially damaging their hearing through misuse (or worse, ignorance)?

You're potential for damage is high if:

• your MP3 volume is set to more than 60% of maximum
• you can't hear conversations going on around you
• people near you can hear your music
• you find yourself shouting instead of talking to people nearby

It's great to have your own, personal music on the go.  How sad it would be to contribute to hearing loss.

Posted by at February 17, 2006

Comments

Hillary email - http://hillary-au.prblogs.org

I have heard more and more about this and it scares me! There is also an article in USA Today saying that the IPods and other headphones are worse now simply because people are using them all day long instead of for just 20-30 minutes a day. I attend a relatively large university and I would say that close to 25 percent of people I see on campus has some kind of headphone in their ear. The newest thing is the wireless and hands free BlueTooth speaker that just directly goes into your ear. I don't have any of these things and after reading the USA Today article, I don't want any of those products.

Tiffany email - tiffanyd.prblogs.org

I, like Hillary, have been hearing/reading more and more about the potential damage from mp3 players. I would be interested to see a study or survey conducted now on how many people use mp3 players and for how many hours a day. I have an Ipod, and I admit I listen to it pretty loud (I can't hear conversations around me) when I work out. But, I only use it when I work out, so maybe I'm slightly less at-risk...I will tell myself that anyway. However, when I am walking to and from classes I would say at least 50% of people I see have headphones in. Can these people not make it ten minutes between classes without music?

I would like to think that people are unaware of the damaging effects of portable mp3 players, and that is why they continue to listen every chance they get. Maybe as this knowledge becomes more common knowledge people will realize that it is serious and will take it into consideration. Posting in blogs, for example, is a great way to get the information out there in many places. Thanks for the post, and hopefully crushing some of the ignorance!

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