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iPods and Hearing Loss

Earbuds may lead to permanent hearing damage

By Elizabeth Quinn, About.com

Updated: September 16, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

A Northwestern University audiologist and professor found more hearing loss in younger people with the use of iPods and earbud headphones that is similar to that found in aging adults.

Earbuds areplaced directly in the ear and can boost the sound signal by as much as six to nine decibels. It’s enough to cause hearing loss after only about an hour and 15 minutes.

The recommendation si what the reasearchers call the 60 percent/60 minute rule. they recommend using the MP3 devices, including iPods, no more than about an hour a day and at levels below 60 percent of maximum volume.

To avoid permanent hearing loss in the middle ranges --the range required to hear conversation in a noisy restaurant, for example -- they recommends the older style, larger headphones that rest over the ear opening.

Another option is the use of noise-canceling headphones that eliminate background noise so listeners don't have to crank the volume so high.

Source: http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2005/12/garstecki.html

Review: December, 2005

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